Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Scribing for Chronic Pain Care: A Narrative Review

Medical documentation is a significant pillar of healthcare, enabling quality care, legal protection, billing and reimbursement, and collaboration between physicians. However, it is time-consuming and resource-intensive, posing a significant burden on chronic pain physicians, leading to outcomes such as increased work stress, diminished patient-physician quality time, and burnout. A range of ambient artificial intelligence (AI)-powered scribes have been developed to document based on listening to the patient-doctor interactions. These scribes utilize voice recognition and data processing capabilities to summarize and interpret patient-physician conversations, freeing physicians' time and resources and refocusing their efforts on core aspects of patient care.

Studies indicate that ambient AI scribes can score significantly higher than traditional notetaking on critical metrics such as completeness, conciseness, and accuracy. Additionally, they have demonstrated the potential to reduce time spent on documentation and cognitive workload while enhancing the quality of the consultation experience. Common challenges include errors, patient autonomy and privacy risks, and broader ethical implications.

While still in its early stages, AI-assisted documentation presents a possible solution to persistent issues in healthcare, such as administrative overload, physician burnout, and documentation-related errors. However, realizing its full potential requires addressing concerns with accuracy, privacy, and trust. The successful implementation of AI in clinical documentation will depend on striking a balance between innovation and safeguards, ensuring that such systems support patient care without compromising ethical standards or clinical safety within pain management, including the broader field of medicine.