AI scribes help reduce physician paperwork and burnout
Adoption of AI scribes could help healthcare systems manage documentation demands while maintaining patient safety and quality of care.
A new UCLA Health study finds that AI-powered scribe tools can reduce physicians’ documentation time and may improve work satisfaction. Conducted across 14 specialities and 72,000 patient visits, the trial tested Microsoft DAX and Nabla in real-world clinical settings.
Physicians using Nabla reduced the time spent writing each note by almost 10% compared with usual care, saving around 41 seconds per note. Both AI tools modestly improved burnout, cognitive workload, and work exhaustion, but physician oversight remains essential.
The trial highlighted several limitations, including occasional inaccuracies in AI-generated notes and a single instance of mild patient safety concern. Physicians found the tools easy to use and noted an improvement in patient engagement, with most patients being receptive.
The findings provide timely evidence as healthcare systems increasingly adopt AI scribes. Researchers emphasise that rigorous evaluation is necessary to ensure patient safety and effectiveness, and that further long-term studies across multiple institutions are recommended.
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