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STAT+: Large AI scribe study finds modest time savings, inconsistent use
Ambient scribes were supposed to ease the burden on stressed-out doctors by automating clinical documentation from patient visits. A new study highlights the need to help clinicians make the best use of the tools.
The large new study of AI scribe use by 1,800 clinicians across five academic medical centers from 2023 to 2025 found those using the technology saved 16 minutes of documentation time and spent 13 fewer minutes in the medical record for every eight hours of patient care. The study did not find significant impacts on time spent in the electronic health record outside of work. Primary care and female clinicians benefitted more than others. Scribe adopters were able to see one additional patient every two weeks.
The findings offer the most definitive real-world data confirming earlier smaller studies. A STAT review of published work last year found scribes saved clinicians under a minute per clinical note. Surprisingly, despite the modest time savings, other studies have found that scribes drive large improvements in burnout and other measures of clinician well-being.