Adoption of AI-Based Scribes in Telemedicine: Provider Attitudes and Insights

Technological advancements and legislation have led to the widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs) in the 21st century. Along with EHR implementation came improved health care quality, continuity of care, and data availability. However, EHRs are not without drawbacks. Physician burnout rates are rising, and EHRs are among the top causative factors. The consequences of burnout can offset the benefits of EHRs, prompting the health care community to seek solutions for the burnout epidemic. One proposed solution is to use artificial intelligence (AI) scribes, which utilize voice-recognition software to transcribe patient-physician interactions in real time, resulting in comprehensive documentation of the encounter. Since AI technology is in its infancy, limited research is available regarding provider perceptions and the real-world use of AI scribes. This study aimed to evaluate health care providers' experiences with documentation burden and perceived quality of patient interactions while using an AI scribe in a telehealth setting.

Participants used the AI scribe exclusively during telehealth encounters. Provider attitudes and experiences were measured across the 3-month pilot period to assess changes in documentation burden, workflow efficiency, satisfaction, and perceived impact on patient interaction quality.

Study results revealed that three-fifths of the providers experienced decreased burnout attributed to the AI scribe, and two-thirds of the providers reported enhanced satisfaction with documentation time and the time spent engaging with patients.

Given our study results and the promising direction of AI technology, the use of AI scribes in the telehealth setting has the potential to mitigate burnout, improve the provider-patient relationship, and help restore patient-centered care.