In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), solutions to challenges ophthalmologists face are but a click away. Several AI solutions tailored to practice management were showcased at the 2025 ASCRS annual meeting in April. The following is an introduction to how AI can optimize ophthalmology practices.
AI Scribes
In an ASCRS presentation, Robert T. Chang, MD, explained that AI scribes can autonomously perform tasks on behalf of a user by employing available tools and making decisions based on their environment. These agents can learn and adapt over time to handle complex tasks and improve their performance. Via ambient listening to the doctor-patient conversation, AI scribes can take a patient’s medical history; create SOAP notes, including an assessment and follow-up plan; suggest ICD-10 and CPT codes based on the visit; pre-chart test orders and prescription refills; and even pre-write answers to patient messages.
“Whether you’re a scribe, a billing person, a front desk person, or you’re stuck in a back room poring over faxes, you likely are not happy,” said Michael Rivers, MD, senior director of ophthalmology at ModMed, a medical AI company. “We can get rid of some of the unhappiness.”
ModMed Scribe is an ambient listening platform trained on data from 200 million visits, which contributes to its high level of accuracy, the company says.
“We’ve got a working model that is 90% successful and is 20 seconds smart, and we’re shooting for 98% success and accuracy,” said Dr. Rivers.
AI Call Management and Messaging Systems
Today’s call management systems are also AI agents, Dr. Chang said. He spoke about using an AI-powered voice platform called Phonely to manage calls for a practice. The manufacturers claim that the system is able to hold “natural” conversations with callers, handling interruptions and scheduling appointments with human-like ability. Phonely also captures and analyzes call data, allowing administrators to review audio recordings, transcripts, and metadata “to extract key insights from customer interactions.”
ModMed’s Klara AI text system is a HIPAA-compliant patient messaging platform that cuts down on the volume of phone calls a practice would otherwise receive, reducing hold times and freeing staff to assist patients in other ways.
“We have clients who tell us the text messaging capability decreases their call center load by 60%,” said Dr. Rivers. “This means their call center staff has more time to spend with patients on the phone without feeling rushed ... and that’s a better patient experience.”
Another advantage of AI messaging is that patients don’t need to go to a website or download an application and figure out how to navigate it, said Dr. Rivers.
“It’s just a text message, and it’s secure. The first time a patient signs in, they enter a PIN that they received while in the physician’s office, and the phone is authorized. All messages that go from the phone directly into our platform are encrypted. That’s HIPAA compliant,” Dr. Rivers explained.
“So, it’s just one more contact on their phone list. They don’t have to think or do anything else—just, away it goes. Somebody [at the office] is going to receive it and [reply].”
AI Inventory Management
Also at ASCRS, Alcon introduced its cloud-based Adi AI platform, which integrates with the Alcon Vision Suite to create “a single source of truth.” The platform supports multiple modules, including Adi Inventory Manager, which enables users to quickly measure inventory literally with the wave of a wand.
The digital implement is used to scan boxes for product counts, specifications, and expiration dates, then adds the information to a real-time database. Adi can even connect directly to Alcon’s online store and automatically order items that are shown to be low in stock. It can also transmit full lens data directly to the surgical center or operating room, reducing the risk of human error.
AI Claims Denial and Scrubbing
Another ModMed module examines coding and assesses the risk of coverage denial. The EHR inputs the completed CMS 1500 form, says Dr. Rivers, “then AI immediately scrubs it—which is possible because our practice management software and our EHR platform use the same database.”
After gathering all pertinent information about the patient, the claim, and the payor, the coding engine then determines whether the claim is likely to be denied, flagging it and providing a reason for the decision as early as day 0, Dr. Rivers said.
“Theoretically, [with this system] you don’t need as big a billing team because they’re not chasing as many denials on the back end. The AI is helping them clean things up in front,” Dr. Rivers concluded.
Just Getting Started
These initiatives are just the tip of the iceberg in AI for ophthalmology. Look for more coverage in future issues of Ophthalmology Management. OM