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AI scribes

Read complete details of the first-ever evaluation study of AI scribes in Ontario's Clinical Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence and Automation Technology to Reduce Administrative Burden in Primary Care (Final Report) compiled by WIHV. 

Overview

According to a 2023 survey by the Ontario College of Family Physicians, primary care physicians in Ontario spend an average of 19 hours a week, or 40% of their time, on administrative tasks. OntarioMD (OMD) advocates for digital tools that allow doctors to focus their time on patients, not paperwork. AI scribe technology has the potential to help alleviate this administrative burden. 

What are AI scribes? 

AI scribes are digital tools designed to automate the administrative tasks of documenting patient consultations. They use artificial intelligence to summarize, or capture spoken conversations with consenting patients into electronic and clinically relevant medical notes for health-care professionals. There may be an associated cost with licensing an AI scribe tool, which can vary depending on the tool’s functionality and from one AI scribe vendor to the next.

How do they work? 

AI scribes use speech-to-text and AI technologies to transcribe physician-patient conversations, with consenting patients, into detailed and meaningful content. This can include summarizing notes from patient visits to identifying administrative actions such as generating referral letters. For physicians, this could help to:

  • Minimize the burden of administrative tasks and other documentation. 
  • Increase interaction time with patients instead of computers. 
  • Enhance engagement with patients.
  • Improve accuracy of documentation details during patient visits. 

How does it differ from dictation software? 

While dictation software converts voices to text, AI scribes can extract content from what they transcribe and apply it to appropriate fields of an electronic medical record (EMR) in a structured manner. They can also pull up a patient's chart, set reminders for follow-ups and medication refills, and order tests or prescriptions, through voice commands. 

Is an AI scribe program in progress in Ontario? 

OntarioMD led an evaluation study of AI scribe technology, in collaboration with the eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) and Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), to determine how it could help with reducing physicians' administrative burden. The project was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and overseen by Ontario Health. The study involved 150 primary care providers from diverse demographic groups, technical backgrounds, and geographic areas, concluding in June 2024. Family doctors who participated in the study reported spending 70% to 90% less time on paperwork. Read more details on AI scribes' efficacy in the full report of the study, Clinical Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence and Automation Technology to Reduce Administrative Burden in Primary Care (Final Report).

Learn more about how AI scribes show promising results in helping family doctors and nurse practitioners. 

Read the Ontario government's news release of its April 24, 2024 announcement on initiatives to help primary care physicians put patients before paperwork or view the video on YouTube. 

Watch the following video to hear Dr. Rosemarie Lall talk about AI scribes' potential to support primary care and return joy to medicine. 

Global News: I will never go back': Ontario family doctor says new AI notetaking saved her job.

Want to know more about AI and AI scribes? 

View an AI Scribe Demonstration on Vimeo to see the tool in action during a patient encounter. 

View the OMD Educates webinar on Vimeo to hear about the benefits, implications and future role of AI scribe technology in health care. Or read about 5 things physicians should know about AI scribe technology. 

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