EVENT RECAP — Rheumakademie Berlin
- Speaker: Dr. Peer Aries, Rheumatology Center Hamburg
- Topic: AI in rheumatology & "getting rid of the chitchat"
- Audience: practicing rheumatologists across the DACH region
At the recent Rheumakademie Berlin, Dr. Peer Aries (Rheumatology Center Hamburg) took the stage to demonstrate the future of clinical documentation. After testing established players like Jameda and CGM alongside newer innovations, Dr. Aries shared an unfiltered look at his workflow with Nixi AI.
"I am significantly more relaxed"
For rheumatologists facing high administrative burdens, his verdict was clear: Nixi AI isn't just a transcription tool; it is a filter for clinical relevance. Admin workload drops, patient time rises, and referral letters go out in minutes. Not hours.
"Getting rid of the chitchat"
Dr. Aries admitted his initial skepticism: "My worry was that it would write down everything… 'How was your Christmas party?'… and flood my system with useless information."
He tested this live on stage. A patient discussed field hockey, the "Sixpack League," and recovery times compared to friends. Instead of transcribing the complaints about teammates, Nixi AI extracted the clinical truth: "Functional limitation after intensive physical activity with delayed regeneration."
The end of "keyboard distraction"
The most profound impact wasn't digital — it was interpersonal. Dr. Aries noted a shift in his own demeanor during patient visits.
German compliance and customization
Highlighting the specific needs of the DACH market, Dr. Aries praised the infrastructure: "It is stored in the German Cloud in Frankfurt. It's not just Europe-compliant; it's in Germany."
He also demonstrated Nixi AI's prompt generator — showing how he instructs the AI to write in "staccato" bullet points for his internal notes, but in full sentences for his letters. Customization that legacy dictation systems have struggled to match.
Why this matters
Dr. Aries's presentation echoes the findings of the 2025 EULAR real-world study: ambient AI reduces consultation time without degrading clinical quality, and patients tend to prefer the eye contact that comes with a keyboard-free exam room.
The shift isn't about replacing physicians — it's about removing the workflow friction that sits between them and their patients.