AI Scribes Cut Doctors' Note-Taking Time by 69% in Study
Doctors spend a lot of time writing notes, and that paperwork is linked to burnout. A new study from the University of Toronto suggests that AI tools can help lighten the load. The university shared the results on 22 September.
The research, published in the journal JAMIA Open, looked at AI scribes. These digital tools record the audio of a visit and produce structured clinical notes. Nine primary-care physicians each took part in four simulated patient visits, with and without the AI tools.
The AI scribes reduced the time needed to write up notes by 69.1 per cent. Without the tools, doctors spent more than a third of each simulated visit on note-taking. With them, doctors usually reviewed and edited the AI-written notes after the visit instead of typing all the way through.
Lead researcher LaShawn Murray, a PhD student in engineering at U of T, said burnout among health-care workers is linked to risks for patient safety and to doctors leaving their jobs. Cutting administrative work is one way to reduce that strain. The study was done with Women's College Hospital and focused on primary care in Ontario.
There was also a surprise. Murray found that writing notes during a visit helped doctors think, and prompted more clinical questions. Some doctors using AI scribes also kept quick scratch notes, which meant less switching between the patient and the computer.
The researchers are careful about what the results mean. The study used simulations, not real clinics, so more research is needed to see how the tools work in everyday practice. Patients' views matter too, including how they feel about being recorded and who can access the recordings. The early results are promising, but AI scribes are only one part of the wider paperwork load.
