visionMC: A Low-Cost AI System Using Facial Recognition and Voice Interaction to Optimize Primary Care Workflows

This pilot study evaluated the visionMC system, a low-cost artificial intelligence system integrating HOG-based facial recognition and voice notifications, for workflow optimization in a family medicine practice. Implemented on a Raspberry Pi 4, the system was tested over two weeks with 50 patients. It achieved 85% recognition accuracy and an average detection time of 3.4 s. Compared with baseline, patient waiting times showed a substantial reduction in waiting time and administrative workload, and the administrative workload decreased by 5–7 min per patient. A satisfaction survey (N = 35) indicated high acceptance, with all scores above 4.5/5, particularly for usefulness and waiting time reduction. These results suggest that visionMC can improve efficiency and enhance patient experience with minimal financial and technical requirements. Larger multicenter studies are warranted to confirm scalability and generalizability. visionMC demonstrates that effective AI integration in small practices is feasible with minimal resources, supporting scalable digital health transformation. Beyond biometric identification, the system’s primary contribution is streamlining practice management by instantly displaying the arriving patient and enabling rapid chart preparation. Personalized greetings enhance patient experience, while email alerts on motion events provide a secondary security benefit. These combined effects drove the observed reductions in waiting and administrative times.