DVIDS – News – McChord Clinic improves healthcare experience with ambient listening technology

Source Domain: www.dvidshub.net

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA – The McChord Clinic is advancing its commitment to innovation and readiness with the introduction of ambient listening technology. This technology is designed to enhance the quality of care for service members and all beneficiaries by generating patient notes during appointments.
To test this technology, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) conducted a six-week ambient listening study from October 31 to December 11, 2025. Madigan Army Medical Center was one of four military treatment facilities selected to participate in the study, which also included Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, and Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center. A broad range of feedback, gathered from the initial study, engagement sessions, town hall meetings, and site visits, consistently resulted in positive results.
Ambient listening technology officially launched for providers in the McChord Clinic on February 9, 2026.
This initiative directly supports DHA’s core mission in advancing the readiness of the medical force and warfighters. DHA is committed to leveraging new tools and technologies that allow providers to focus on what matters most: the patient.
Ambient listening technology is a key part of DHA’s strategy to improve patient outcomes and continuously enhance the safe and effective delivery of care across the enterprise.
Ambient listening was designed with patient transparency and security as top priorities. All audio and generated documentation are protected using secure, cyber compliant controls to ensure confidentiality of the patient’s health information. The process ensures patients remain in control of their healthcare experience.
Before ambient listening technology can be used in an appointment, the patient must provide explicit verbal consent. While the provider and patient have a natural conversation about health…

Source