AI scribes promised to reduce EHR burden—are they delivering?
Industry Buzz
Previous studies link ambient documentation to a significant decrease in burnout, but the underlying drivers of this reduction have been unclear… The modest reductions in documentation time we have observed are unlikely to fully account for changes in burnout.
—Rebecca G. Mishuris, MD, Mass General Brigham press release
Sometimes patients are anxious and scared and my saying things that they don't understand or they may worry about during an uncomfortable examination does not help the situation and honestly is insensitive to what the patient is going through.
—Genevieve Melton-Meaux, MD, via KFF Health News
Keeping patient visits well documented in the EHR is critical for good care and staying compliant, and AI scribes are making it easier by taking some of the documentation work off clinicians’ plates.
But emerging research suggests those gains may be more limited than expected.
A recent study found that AI scribes were associated with modest reductions of 13 minutes in EHR use and 16 minutes in documentation time, highlighting the need to better understand how these tools impact clinician workflows.[]
Modest reduction in EHR documentation
In addition to (fairly trivial) decreases in EHR time, the study showed a slight increase in productivity of about 0.5 additional patient visits per week.[]
The most notable improvements were seen among primary care physicians, advanced practice providers, female clinicians, and those who used ambient documentation in at least half of their patient encounters.
Frequent users saw the greatest benefit: Clinicians who used AI scribes in more than half of visits experienced twice the reduction in total EHR time and three times the reduction in documentation time. However, only 32% of users reached that level of adoption.[]
Financial gains were minimal. Although increased patient volume led to statistically significant revenue gains, the increase was modest—about $167 per month per clinician.[]
Importantly, time spent in the EHR outside of working hours did not differ between clinicians who used AI scribes and those who did not.
“Previous studies link ambient documentation to a significant decrease in burnout, but the underlying drivers of this reduction have been unclear,” Rebecca G. Mishuris, MD, chief health information officer at Mass General Brigham, said in a press release. “The modest reductions in documentation time we have observed are unlikely to fully account for changes in burnout, underscoring the need to understand how these tools change how clinicians approach care delivery while using them.”[]
Related: The EHR 'second shift' is costing physicians more than time: Try these doc-recommended fixes to reduce inbox overloadWhat this means for the clinic
While physicians are increasingly optimistic about AI scribes, challenges remain. For example, saying things out loud to the AI scribe that would normally only appear in a clinical note can create its own challenges, especially during physical exams.
"Sometimes patients are anxious and scared and my saying things that they don't understand or they may worry about during an uncomfortable examination does not help the situation and honestly is insensitive to what the patient is going through," Genevieve Melton-Meaux, MD, a professor in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Minnesota, told KFF Health News.[]
"How we have conversations with patients about these tools is really important, in particular for maintaining trust and ensuring accurate information, Dr. Melton-Meaux added."[]
Though more research is needed to determine the full impact of AI scribes on patient communication and EHR use, early findings suggest incremental benefits, reinforcing the need for thoughtful implementation.
Set realistic expectations for time savings. While AI scribes can reduce documentation burden, the impact is limited, so focus on how these tools fit into your workflow, rather than expecting major time cuts right away.
Consistency drives greater efficiency. Clinicians who use AI scribes frequently, ideally across much of their day, see the most meaningful impact. Rather than using the tool sporadically, identify visit types where it performs well and expand from there. If the greatest benefits come with high-frequency use, where else could ambient AI fit into your workflow?
Look beyond documentation to address burnout. Reduced EHR time alone won’t solve burnout or dissatisfaction. Physicians should also consider how these tools affect cognitive load, workflow efficiency, and the quality of patient interactions.