We sat down with Joseph Tutera, our CEO, to get his thoughts on end-of-year trends and why practices shouldn’t wait until January to fix their documentation burden.

Q: We hear this a lot from practices… “It’s cold and flu season. We’re slammed. We don’t have time to adopt new tech.” Is that true?

Joseph: It’s the conventional wisdom. When volumes spike, you don’t change anything. And yes: nobody should rip out their EHR during December. But ambient AI is different. It’s simple to start using, and when documentation demands skyrocket, that’s exactly where it delivers the biggest lift.

Q: Why is cold and flu season such a nightmare for clinicians?

Joseph: Everything hits at once: patient volume, patient complexity, documentation, coding. All rising while available time shrinks. Notes blur together. Details get lost at the end of the day. Accuracy suffers. That’s why this season is actually the ideal moment to bring in a tool that offloads documentation instantly.

Q: Isn’t it harder to adopt something new when you’re busy?

Joseph: People assume that. But cold/flu season creates a predictable set of cases, and that consistency actually makes ambient AI shine. Anyone can learn the workflow in five minutes. It reduces friction immediately, not adds to it.

Q: How has ambient technology evolved over the last few years?

Joseph: Two years ago, ambient AI was hard to build. Today, “okay” solutions are everywhere, and EHRs are embedding basic tools. But the gap between “okay” and good is massive.

Startups focused exclusively on ambient AI are pushing forward on coding, charting assistance, retrieval, co-pilot features, and even revenue cycle support. You’ll see nurses, inpatient teams, and more stakeholders adopting these tools next.

Q: Will most practices just take whatever ambient tool their EHR offers?

Joseph: Some will — just like some use their EHR’s built-in telehealth even if it’s mediocre. But clinicians drive this decision. They spend seven hours a day in the tool. A 5% better note can mean hundreds in monthly value through correct acuity, proper HCC scoring, or accurate RAF capture. Clinicians know this. They choose quality, not just cost.

Q: Do clinicians trust EHR vendors to build the next generation of AI?

Joseph: Ask them. If your EHR still struggles with forms, video, or basic workflows, are they really going to lead the AI revolution? Most clinicians don’t buy it. That’s why third-party ambient companies will continue to innovate far faster.

Q: So what do you say to a practice that’s drowning right now?

Joseph: I know you’re busy — but you’re not too busy to invest 20 minutes to see if something could make your day 50% better. If a tool can’t prove value that quickly, walk away. But for most clinicians, the value is immediate. These tools aren’t complicated. They’re built to help you survive the hardest month of the year.

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