Epic Systems, a leading electronic health record (EHR) provider, is rolling out three new AI tools designed to help healthcare teams manage their heavy workloads. The company, which provides EHRs to over 40% of U.S. hospitals, is introducing these AI assistants—named Art, Emmie, and Penny—to streamline everything from clinical documentation to patient communication and billing. The first tool is scheduled to launch in November 2026, so nurses may soon see these new features in their workflows.
The big question for nurses is whether this new technology will be a real solution or just another headache.
Art: The Clinical Assistant Nurses Are Watching
For nurses, Art is the most promising new tool. It’s an AI assistant built specifically for clinicians, and it aims to cut documentation time by up to 20% by automating tedious tasks like charting and creating visit summaries. Epic says Art’s goal is to reduce clinician burnout and help nurses spend more time where it matters—at the patient's bedside.
But Art can do more than just charting. It's also designed to handle prior authorizations and place medical orders, which could be a huge time-saver for nurses who constantly coordinate with providers, pharmacies, and labs.
Emmie and Penny: Indirect Help for Nurses
While Art is the headliner, the other two AI tools, Emmie and Penny, could also indirectly lighten a nurse's load. Emmie is a patient-facing assistant that works through Epic’s MyChart portal. It helps patients understand lab results, offers personalized health advice, and manages appointment scheduling. If Emmie can handle even a fraction of the common patient messages nurses receive, it could save a lot of time spent on inbox management.
Then there’s Penny, the billing and revenue cycle assistant. Penny's job is to clean up the financial side of healthcare by generating appeal letters for denied claims and improving billing accuracy. While this might seem far removed from nursing, better financial workflows can lead to improved staffing and resource allocation, which benefits everyone on the team.
The Reality of AI in Nursing
These AI assistants represent a significant shift in how EHRs function. Instead of just storing information, they'll actively process data to assist with decision-making and reduce the administrative burden on staff. But before nurses celebrate, it's important to consider some potential challenges.
How will these tools integrate with existing nursing workflows? Will they actually save time, or will nurses spend those “extra” minutes double-checking the AI's work? And what will the effect be on the nurse-patient relationship? Will the technology free up time for more personal connection, or will it add another layer of complexity to the day?
Epic has yet to announce which hospitals will be the first to implement these tools. The promise of spending less time charting and more time with patients is definitely appealing, but the true test will be in the rollout. Will these tools be user-friendly and actually reduce burnout? Only time will tell.
Source: Nurse.org | August 26, 2025