Physician burnout in rheumatology: are medical scribes part of the solution?

Retention of highly qualified physicians remains a critical priority in rheumatology and the broader medical field due to persistent physician shortages in the United States. Addressing physician well-being and burnout is therefore essential. An optimal approach to addressing burnout in the United States and internationally involves reimagining and redesigning care delivery. Physicians currently spend nearly equal time on administrative tasks and on direct patient care. A central challenge is to identify strategies that sustain professional engagement, enable providers to spend meaningful time with patients, and foster an environment that prioritizes provider well-being. Ambient artificial intelligence (AI) scribes are increasingly adopted for clinical documentation. However, evidence regarding their impact on productivity remains limited. These technologies require significant financial investment, and to offset associated costs, physicians are often expected to increase clinical volume by seeing additional patients. Although AI scribes may reduce documentation burden, their ultimate value depends on integration with broader initiatives to redesign clinical workflows, protect physician time, and restore meaning to patient care. Significant usability challenges persist. AI offers both substantial opportunities and notable risks. Thoughtful implementation within electronic health records and clinical workflows, combined with ongoing research on the impact of burnout, is required.