Supporting Organisation: University of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
About Ryan's fellowship project
Title: Ambient Voice Technologies (AVTs) in Adult Community Mental Health Psychology Teams: Friend or Foe?
Advances in digital technology have transformed healthcare, including the widespread use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Despite these developments, clinical documentation remains a significant burden for clinicians and is associated with an increased risk of staff burnout. Psychology professionals are particularly affected, as they often deliver lengthy, emotionally demanding appointments and commonly take handwritten notes before transferring information onto EHR systems. Research has shown that emotional exhaustion is widely experienced by applied psychologists, with administrative overload identified as a contributing factor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled ambient voice technologies (AVTs) offer a potential solution. By automatically generating clinical notes from conversations, AVTs may reduce documentation time, lower cognitive workload and allow clinicians to focus more fully on patient interactions. Whilst early research evidence suggests AVTs can improve efficiency and support patient-centred care, questions remain regarding transcription accuracy and their wider impact on staff experience.
This project aims to evaluate whether AVTs can reduce administrative workload and cognitive burden amongst psychology professionals working in Adult Community Mental Health Services. The findings may inform decisions about the future use of AVTs in healthcare organisations and support evidence-informed digital transformation that benefits staff and service users.
Contact Ryan: Ryan.Nah@cpft.nhs.uk