Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Dr. Michael Han on Ambient AI and Governance Strategy at MultiCare Health System

Date: February 21, 2026
Host: Laura Darda
Guest: Dr. Michael Han, Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer, MultiCare Health System

Episode Overview

This episode features an insightful conversation with Dr. Michael Han, the CMIO at MultiCare Health System, focused on real-world adoption of ambient AI tools for clinical documentation, the measurable impact on provider burnout, and the evolving landscape of AI governance in healthcare. Dr. Han discusses MultiCare’s unique “bake off” approach to vendor selection, tangible results in physician well-being, and the ongoing challenges and hopes as AI fundamentally changes the way care is delivered.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Dr. Michael Han and MultiCare Health System

(00:57 – 01:46)

• Dr. Han is a urologist by training, now serving as VP and Chief Medical Information Officer at MultiCare.
• MultiCare: 13 hospitals, 2,300 beds, 25,000 employees, 3,000 physicians, based in Tacoma, WA.
• Noted for a sizable behavioral health footprint and a mission to be “the highest value system of health in the Pacific Northwest.”

2. The Ambient AI Clinical Documentation “Bake Off”

Pilot & Vendor Evaluation (01:55 – 06:06)

• In early 2024, MultiCare began evaluating ambient AI clinical documentation, piloting with the market’s legacy product (100 licenses).
• Initial results: Tools reduced documentation time but did not impact total charting time, after-hours burden, or productivity; high subjective satisfaction among providers, but some attrition.
• As the AI market matured, Dr. Han instituted a “bake off” between three vendors, enrolling ~550 clinicians.
• Comprehensive evaluation included:
  • Time in chart
  • Time in documentation
  • After-hours work
  • Provider productivity (RVUs), HCC coding, RAF scores
  • Extensive survey for user experience (over 50% response rate)

Notable Results:

• Burnout Reduction:
  • Before the tool: 66% of physicians/APs experienced at least one burnout symptom
  • After adoption: Only 16% did
  • Quote: “We were able to reduce symptoms of burnout by 75%, which was astounding.” — Dr. Han (05:15)
• Work Enjoyment:
  • Before: 11% reported enjoyment
  • After: 37% reported enjoyment
• Concludes this technology is a “game changer,” with physicians “clamoring for it," and a rapid rollout scheduled for 2026.

Quote:
“If you’re not at least looking at an ambient clinical documentation tool for your physicians and APPs, you don’t care about your physicians and APPs. And I’m quite serious.” — Dr. Han (05:59)

3. Data-Driven Vendor Selection & ROI Assurance

Ensuring Value & Accountability (06:53 – 08:37)

• Ongoing monitoring uses utilization rates, encounter data—not just license counts.
• Negotiated with vendors to put compensation ‘at risk’ based on measurable improvements in revenue, burnout, and productivity.
• Vendors willingly accepted risk, reflecting confidence in their products.
• Importance of ROI emphasized, especially to satisfy the demands of the MultiCare CFO.

4. AI Governance Structures & Future Priorities

Governance for Safe and Effective AI Deployment (08:57 – 14:04)

• Dr. Han’s top 2026 priority: Maturing AI governance.
• MultiCare embeds AI/data governance in every new software request and has a multidisciplinary AI governance committee (medical, pharmacy, nursing, compliance, legal, risk).
• Governance challenges:
  • Monitoring for bias, safety, “drift,” compliance, and ROI
  • Aspires to a “single pane of glass” dashboard for oversight across all AI vendors
  • Realizes need for technical solutions to facilitate ongoing monitoring

Quote:
“We have a multidisciplinary AI governance committee that I help to lead that is keeping up with this sort of new capabilities that are being introduced... My dream would be to have a single pane of glass where I can look and say, okay, this AI vendor—is it delivering on what they said? Is it safe, and bias free, and drift free?” — Dr. Han (09:12)

• Inclusion efforts: While committee is broad, missing the “patient voice”; Dr. Han is mindful that users should include patient perspectives in the future.

5. Challenges: Prioritization in Scarcity

Resource Constraints in Healthcare IT (14:11 – 14:46)

• The biggest challenge: Prioritizing investments given persistent razor-thin margins and numerous options.
• Essential skill: Deciding what to say no to, with so many technological possibilities but limited capital.

6. Outlook: AI’s Transformational Promise

Reasons for Optimism (15:16 – 16:24)

• Dr. Han cites dramatic reductions in burnout and increased work enjoyment as unprecedented in his 15-year informatics career.
• Contrasts current meaningful progress with past “meaningful use” initiatives, believing AI is finally poised to drive real-world clinical transformation.

Quote:
“I’m extremely optimistic... that we’re actually going to do a lot more meaningful things and be able to move the needle... bend the curve... for our patients and our clinicians over the next five to ten years. I think that large language models [and] artificial intelligence are truly going to change the way that we deliver healthcare in this country, and I’m just really excited to be a part of that.” — Dr. Han (15:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you’re not at least looking at an ambient clinical documentation tool for your physicians and APPs, you don’t care about your physicians and APPs. And I’m quite serious.” (05:59 – Dr. Han)
• “We were able to reduce symptoms of burnout by 75%, which was astounding.” (05:15 – Dr. Han)
• “My dream would be to sort of have a single pane of glass... Is it delivering on what they said they would deliver? And is it safe, and bias free, and drift free?” (09:12 – Dr. Han)
• “I think that the hardest thing that we do in general is having to prioritize with limited resources.” (14:11 – Dr. Han)
• “I’m extremely optimistic... I’ve never seen anything move the needle like that.” (15:16 – Dr. Han)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:57 – Dr. Han introduces his background & MultiCare’s scope
• 01:55 – The start of MultiCare’s ambient AI evaluation & rollout
• 05:15 – Burnout reduction and increase in physician job enjoyment
• 05:59 – Dr. Han’s strong advocacy for ambient documentation tools
• 06:53 – Data-driven vendor contracts and risk-sharing for ROI
• 08:57 – AI governance priorities, committee structure, and monitoring needs
• 09:12 – Vision for “single pane of glass” AI oversight
• 12:32 – Committee composition and the missing patient voice
• 14:11 – The challenge of prioritization with scarce resources
• 15:16 – Unprecedented impact of AI tools; optimism for real transformation

Summary Takeaway

This episode offers a detailed look at how one large health system is pragmatically and thoughtfully rolling out ambient AI for clinical documentation—showcasing significant gains in provider well-being and illuminating the complexities of governance, risk, and scalability. Dr. Han’s data-driven and collaborative approach models the future of tech adoption in healthcare, with optimism grounded in measured results and a deliberate focus on people, process, and technology.