After more than three decades as a speech therapist, Michelle Longmuir-Wilkes has seen many changes in health care. But few have had the kind of impact she recently experienced as a home health speech therapist with OhioHealth at Home in partnership with Compassus in Columbus, Ohio.
For years, Michelle’s days looked much like those of many home health clinicians. She would spend her time where it mattered most — sitting face-to-face with patients, listening to their concerns and guiding them through therapy. Then, after a full day of visits, another shift would begin.
“On an average day, I see five to seven patients,” Michelle said. “Each visit includes checking medications, vitals, pain levels and working through therapy goals. The visit itself is about 45 minutes, and then it’s time to head to the next home. There really isn’t time to document everything in between.”
That often meant Michelle would return home after a full day of patient visits, cook dinner for her family and then spend several more hours completing clinical notes.
“You’re trying to remember everything that happened during the session and capture it clearly,” she said. “I knew I was providing great therapy, but it was difficult to put it all into the documentation after such a long day.”
A New Way Forward
When Compassus introduced Nestmed, AI-supported documentation technology, to clinicians like Michelle, the goal was simple: remove barriers so clinicians could focus on what matters most — their patients.
At first, Michelle admits she was skeptical.
“AI can sound intimidating,” she said. “You wonder if it might change the way you practice or take away from the skills you’ve spent years developing.”
But after giving it a try, Michelle quickly saw the difference.
“It completely changed the game,” she said. “Because I’m talking with patients and families throughout the session, the system captures what we’re doing and helps turn it into clear documentation. It takes so much of the mental load off.”
Michelle estimates the technology has cut her after-hours documentation time by at least half.
Putting the Focus Back on Patients
For Michelle, the biggest benefit isn’t just efficiency. It’s presence.
“As therapists, we build trust through conversation and connection,” she said. “Patients can feel it when your attention is divided between them and a computer. We want them to know they have our full focus.”
With the system capturing much of the session in real time, Michelle is able to spend more time doing what she loves most: helping patients.
“It gives me confidence that what happened during the visit is being captured accurately,” she said. “Then I review it and make sure everything is exactly right.”
Supporting Care — Not Replacing It
Michelle is quick to point out that the technology isn’t replacing clinicians. Instead, it supports them in delivering high-quality care while meeting increasingly complex documentation requirements.
“Documentation has changed a lot in the 30 years I’ve been practicing,” she said. “We have to clearly show medical necessity for the services we provide. This helps ensure we’re capturing those details in a way that supports our patients and the care they need.”
In fact, Michelle says the transition to the new technology has been one of the smoothest changes she has experienced in her career.
“By far, this has been the easiest transition overall,” she said.
Time That Matters Most
Perhaps the most meaningful change has been the time Michelle has gained back outside of work.
“There were times I was documenting until after midnight on Sundays just trying to keep up,” she said.
Now, those late nights are far less common.
“This has given me my evenings back,” she said. “I get to spend more time with my family. My dad is elderly, and now I’m able to visit him more often. That time is incredibly important.”
Innovation With Purpose
As home-based care continues to evolve, Compassus remains committed to exploring innovative ways to support clinicians and strengthen patient relationships.
For Michelle, the impact is simple.
“This isn’t about replacing therapists,” she said. “It’s about helping us be the kind of therapist our patients need us to be.”
And sometimes, she adds, all it takes is trying it once.
“All it takes is one trial,” Michelle said. “Then you understand.”
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