In a significant step toward reducing administrative overload in healthcare, Nabla, a leading ambient AI assistant provider, has announced a full-scale deployment of its technology across Neighborhood Healthcare. This expansion follows a highly successful four-month pilot and now supports all 220 clinicians at the organization. Neighborhood Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving nearly 100,000 patients annually across San Diego and Riverside counties, is among the first large-scale FQHCs to deploy AI-driven clinical documentation to this extent. The decision marks a major move to prioritize clinician well-being, patient engagement, and operational efficiency in underserved healthcare settings.
The Administrative Burden on FQHCs: A Crisis in Need of Innovation
1. Clinician Burnout from Excessive Documentation
- Research shows that for every hour spent with a patient, clinicians spend nearly two more hours on administrative tasks.
- Prolonged EHR work reduces face-to-face interaction, eye contact, and the quality of the patient-provider relationship.
- FQHCs, already stretched thin, experience this pressure more acutely as they serve patients facing social, economic, and linguistic barriers.
2. The Need for Tech That Understands Safety-Net Settings
How Nabla’s Ambient AI Assistant Works
1. Secure, Consent-Based Listening
- Nabla’s assistant listens to clinician-patient interactions (with consent) and auto-generates structured clinical notes compatible with eClinicalWorks, the organization’s EHR system.
2. Streamlined Clinical Note Generation
- During the pilot, Nabla produced 34,000 notes, with an impressive average quality rating of 4.3/5.
- Only 2% of notes required editing, underscoring the AI’s accuracy and reliability.
- Many clinicians reported completing notes before patient visits ended, reclaiming their evenings and weekends.
A New Standard for Personalized, Efficient Documentation
1. Customizable Note Styles and Templates
- Clinicians can tailor tone, length, and format to match personal documentation styles.
- Templates are available across diverse disciplines—general medicine, dental, pediatrics, behavioral health, women’s health, and more.
2. Real-Time Context for Better Documentation
- Nabla’s Patient Context feature enables Medical Assistants (MAs) to gather and input detailed information during rooming, leading to more complete notes.
- This feature was used in 25% of all notes, streamlining workflow and reducing clinician load.
3. Multilingual Capabilities for Diverse Populations
- In line with FQHC demographics, Nabla supports Spanish, Arabic, and other languages, allowing clinicians to serve their communities without linguistic barriers.
Voices from the Frontline: Clinician Testimonials
Dr. Rakesh Patel, CEO of Neighborhood Healthcare:
“Supporting our clinicians is one of the most effective ways we can improve access and quality of care… Nabla’s technology has meaningfully reduced administrative burden.”
Dr. Edgar Bulloch, Assistant Chief Medical Officer:
“With Nabla’s ambient AI, I can focus on my patients… I know it’s capturing the conversation and producing structured notes that are easy to follow.”
Expanding Impact: From Clinical Notes to Team-Based Workflow Support
1. Empowering Medical Assistants in Safety-Net Settings
- Neighborhood Healthcare is exploring how MAs can use Nabla for tasks such as:
- Discharge summaries
- Lab and referral orders
- Follow-up documentation
- This shift can reduce burnout, boost workflow efficiency, and allow clinicians to prioritize patient care.
2. Grassroots Adoption Leading to Systemwide Transformation
- What began as one physician’s positive experience has led to organization-wide adoption.
- Nabla’s approach—focusing on clinician needs, listening to feedback, and enabling customization—has been central to its successful scaling.
Delphine Groll, Co-founder and COO of Nabla:
“That’s the power of grassroots adoption… Nabla helps clinicians reclaim time and reconnect with their patients.”
Reinventing Clinical Efficiency Through Ambient AI
Nabla’s full rollout at Neighborhood Healthcare illustrates the transformative power of AI in community health settings. By lifting the documentation burden, Nabla enables clinicians to return to the heart of healthcare—connecting with patients.
In a system where time is scarce and care is critical, Nabla’s ambient AI is proving to be more than a tool—it’s a partner in care delivery, one that’s adaptable, efficient, and built with clinicians in mind.
