‍1. Introduction

In today’s fast-paced clinical environments, providers are seeking smarter tools that streamline documentation without compromising the accuracy or depth of patient care. Dr. Rohan Thamby, a podiatrist at NorCal Foot & Ankle Center, shares how Ember has transformed his approach to medical documentation—saving time and improving the clarity of medical necessity in his notes.

With a busy outpatient schedule and a diverse patient population, Dr. Thamby sought a solution that was not only efficient but clinically intelligent. What he found in Ember was more than just a time-saver—it was a practice enhancer.

2. The Challenge: Time, Templates, and Trust in Technology

Before Ember, Dr. Thamby started each day early, manually prepping templates for his patients:

“I spend some time preparing templates for my patients. For new patients, I usually prepare a generic template, and for my other patients, I tweak the existing ones based on ongoing treatment.”

Documentation was time-consuming and rigid, and like many physicians, Dr. Thamby was cautious about adopting AI-based tools:

“I thought it might be really complicated and take quite a while to learn. I’ve heard stories from colleagues who tried other AI tools and didn’t have great experiences.”

This initial skepticism is common among physicians who’ve been burned by underwhelming digital tools. But Ember soon changed that perception.

3. First Impressions: Simple, Structured, and Effective

What stood out to Dr. Thamby was how intuitive Ember felt from the start:

“Ember has been really smooth and surprisingly easy to use.”

He began with Ember’s built-in SOAP note template before customizing his own:

“I wanted to get a feel for how it worked. I was really impressed—it was very well-structured and covered all the key points I needed.”

Starting with Ember’s templates provided a helpful foundation, allowing him to gradually personalize his workflow without starting from scratch.

4. Billing and Coding

The biggest benefit? Time savings and confidence in documentation accuracy:

“It’s been a big help, especially with billing and coding. Save a lot of time.”

But beyond just speed, Ember improved how Dr. Thamby communicates medical necessity, a crucial component for both clinical clarity and insurance justification:

“Yes, it definitely helps explain medical necessity more clearly and correctly. That’s one of the things I appreciate most—it ensures my notes are complete.”

5. Advice for New Users: Don’t Be Intimidated

For clinicians exploring Ember, Dr. Thamby offers simple advice:

“Give it a try.”

He also recommends beginning with Ember’s prebuilt templates:

“Try Ember’s SOAP note templates first—they’re pretty nice.”

This incremental approach makes onboarding approachable for even the most tech-wary clinicians.

6. Conclusion

With Ember, Dr. Rohan Thamby has reduced his documentation burden, enhanced the clarity of medical necessity in his notes, and reclaimed time for patient care. His experience is a testament to how thoughtful AI tools can support—not complicate—clinical practice.

“It’s smooth, efficient, and gets the job done right.”

For podiatrists and other specialists alike, Ember represents more than automation—it’s a smarter way to document care.