Use of ambient AI scribes to reduce administrative burden and professional burnout (2 October 2025)

Summary

What is the association of using ambient artificial intelligence (AI) scribes with clinician administrative burden, burnout, time documenting after hours, and time and attention for patients?

This quality improvement study of 263 physicians and advance practice practitioners across 6 healthcare systems found that after 30 days with an ambient AI scribe, burnout among those working in ambulatory clinics decreased significantly from 51.9% to 38.8%. There were also significant improvements in the cognitive task load, time spent documenting after hours, focused attention on patients, and urgent access to care.

These findings suggest that AI may have promising applications to reduce administrative burdens for clinicians and allow more time for meaningful work and professional well-being.

Related reading on the hub:

• From pain to progress: How NHS trusts are tackling the complaints crisis with AI
• Balancing promise and risk: AI hallucinations, confabulations and omissions in healthcare
• Patient safety and the role of AI in a cautiously optimistic future: A blog by Ian Fearnley