How does Providence use Epic AI to streamline care?

Providence is expanding its use of Epic’s native AI tools to simplify its application landscape, streamline clinician workflows, and reduce reliance on standalone third-party software, the health system told Becker's Hospital Review on May 26, 2026.

The healthcare system recently partnered with Epic, the American healthcare software company, launching 12 new Epic AI use cases following its April EHR upgrade, according to Adar Palis, senior vice president and chief of clinical applications and technology at Providence, including clinical documentation summaries, coding assistance, predictive denials, and AI-powered reporting tools.

Palis said his team wants to use fewer software applications by doing all their work directly inside their main medical record system, Epic. Cutting third-party apps and keeping everything inside Epic eliminates the need to build complex tech bridges or guess which system broke. This centralization eliminates data-transfer troubleshooting and significantly reduces the IT team's daily workload.

“Embedding AI tools directly inside Epic reduces the need for clinicians to move between multiple platforms and helps operational teams avoid bringing in additional standalone technologies,” Palis said.

By blocking outside point solutions, this strategy forces their teams to focus on the primary system rollout, which is already designed to address their specific problems, Palis said. Providence prefers Epic-native tools to solve workflow problems; however, it also uses outside vendors when necessary, as the organization chose Nuance DAX over Epic's own offering for its ambient listening needs, Palis added.

“If it’s within Epic and it’s a need that’s identified by our operations, certainly that’s our first look,” Palis said.

Palis talked about Providence’s measured approach to deployment, where the organization tests new tools in isolated environments, validates them with clinicians and staff, and pilots them in select clinics or hospital units before broader rollout.

He said that Providence purposely goes slower than other organizations as they want to ensure the effectiveness of their AI tools. He noted that early feedback has been positive, especially regarding tools that summarize patient data and ease the administrative workload.

Providence has continuously integrated artificial intelligence into clinical workflows, research, and operations, dedicating significant funding to AI and large language models. On 12th May 2026, it partnered with Microsoft Company, Nuance Communications, to develop TRIALSCOPE, which aims to use AI and streamline the lengthy process of studying new drugs and treatments.