Five Lessons Leaders at Dayton Children’s Learned From Implementing Abridge: Candid Insights From Dayton’s CIO and CMIO

Dayton Children’s Hospital, a pediatric acute care hospital located in Dayton, Ohio, has implemented the Abridge generative AI platform for clinical conversations to improve clinician and patient experiences while reducing cognitive load and burnout.

Now, leaders at Dayton Children’s are thinking about what’s next. In this exclusive conversation, Dr. Abiodun Omoloja, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, and J.D. Whitlock, Chief Information Officer, candidly discuss their experiences deploying Abridge, clinician and patient feedback, and their vision for the future. 

When you consider how Abridge has transformed care delivery at Dayton Children’s, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? 

Dr. Omoloja: I've been practicing for close to 30 years as a pediatric nephrologist. Documentation has always been part of the job. I've typed, used templates, even dictated, and waited through 48-hour turnaround times for transcription. But using Abridge made me realize something I didn’t fully grasp before: the cognitive burden I was carrying. Suddenly, that weight lifted.

J.D. Whitlock: One of the great things about Abridge is that the benefits are so immediately realized. Implementation was quick and easy, and we saw value immediately. I’ve been in healthcare IT for over two decades, and so much of what we implement—modules, upgrades, infrastructure—nobody notices unless it breaks. But when we rolled out Abridge at Dayton Children’s, it was one of the few times where clinicians reached out just to say, “thank you.” 

Integrating new technology across a health system offers unique challenges. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them? 

J.D. Whitlock: We’re a small system. We don’t have massive research teams or giant innovation budgets. But Abridge made it possible for us to bring leading-edge technology to our clinicians without a heavy lift. We implemented Abridge clinic-by-clinic, which helped structure the rollout. Some providers weren’t initially enthusiastic, but when they tried it and understood how it impacted their experience, there was broad adoption. 

Dr. Omoloja: It’s not just about speed or convenience. It’s quality, too. I'm no longer second-guessing if I missed something important when there was a lot of discussion with the parent. The AI captures details I might overlook, especially in a busy clinic, and that has a real impact on care. 

Is there anything specific to a pediatric hospital where you have found Abridge’s capabilities particularly impactful? 

Dr. Omoloja: I’ve heard parents say, “If it helps you, it helps me.” There’s something special about that dynamic in pediatrics. Parents are extra-sensitive to how their child is being treated. Abridge helps us stay present.

J.D. Whitlock: Abridge also addressed our open notes challenge. We’ve given patients access to their notes, which is great, but those notes are often hard to understand. Clinicians don’t have time to rewrite everything in plain language. Abridge generates a patient visit summary at an eighth-grade reading level that patients can actually understand. That reduces MyChart messages and improves satisfaction all around. That’s one really important way we’re improving efficiency. 

What advice would you give other health system leaders who are considering adopting ambient AI? 

J.D. Whitlock: Abridge helps level the playing field. Whether you're a large research institution, a sprawling urban health system, or Dayton Children’s, it’s possible to bring transformative technology to your providers and patients.

Dr. Omoloja: My advice to peers at other institutions is “go for it!” But don’t go it alone. Lean on Abridge’s best practices. Partner with them. That collaboration makes a difference.

What is on your roadmap for ambient AI at Dayton Children’s? 

Dr. Omoloja: I’m excited for what’s coming, like more-concise patient summaries. Features like enhanced physical exam templates and ambient orders are also on my wish list.

J.D. Whitlock: The more seamless we can make that workflow, the better. We’re also preparing to expand to emergency medicine and inpatient settings. Our emergency department is excited, and hospitalists are eager. New features keep coming, and they actually make a difference.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.