AI solutions combat healthcare burnout, eClinicalWorks survey reveals
MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES — A recent survey by eClinicalWorks, the ambulatory cloud electronic health record (EHR) provider, revealed that AI-powered solutions may be the key to combating physician burnout and improving healthcare delivery.
The survey, conducted among healthcare professionals, highlights AI’s significant impact on reducing administrative burdens and enhancing patient care.
Administrative overload fueling burnout
According to the survey, 41% of healthcare professionals spend over four hours daily on administrative tasks, including clinical documentation. This heavy workload contributes significantly to physician burnout.
Girish Navani, CEO and Co-founder of eClinicalWorks, emphasized the need for innovative solutions: “Healthcare professionals face many challenges daily that hinder their ability to provide the best possible care to their patients while mitigating burnout.”
AI medical scribes as a time-saving solution
One of the survey’s standout findings is the potential of AI medical scribes to save time. Approximately 65% of respondents believe AI can best support them with clinical documentation.
Notably, 51% of healthcare providers indicated that AI medical scribes could save them two hours or more per day on documentation tasks. This time-saving allows providers to focus more on patient care and other critical responsibilities.
Managing patient data with AI
The survey also highlighted challenges related to managing patient data. Around 68% of respondents identified the volume and need for analysis as the greatest challenges in handling their fax inboxes.
AI solutions can streamline the sorting and analysis of these documents, ensuring that critical patient information is readily accessible.
Interoperability, or the ability to gather records from other organizations and health systems, is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
The survey found that 85% of providers consider it extremely important to have access to records from other healthcare providers.
This access ensures a complete patient history is available at the point of care, enhancing treatment accuracy and outcomes.
Reducing no-show appointments
No-show appointments are another significant issue, with 64% of respondents experiencing more than 10 no-shows each week.
AI-powered solutions like the healow no-show prediction model can help practices increase schedule utilization, improving both patient outcomes and practice revenue.
AI’s transformative potential in healthcare
The survey results underscore AI’s transformative potential in healthcare. By streamlining clinical documentation, improving data management, and reducing no-show appointments, AI-powered technology allows healthcare providers to expand operations and deliver exceptional patient care.
As Lalith Samaraweera, director of clinical informatics and business intelligence at Guidewell DCMG, stated, “AI is a complement to your workforce and a helpful asset. It is important to learn where AI can be implemented.”
EClinicalWorks’ survey methodology
The eClinicalWorks survey was conducted online during two 2024 company-hosted summits, with over 120 healthcare professionals participating. The survey aimed to capture data on the key challenges faced by healthcare professionals and the AI-powered solutions that can alleviate these obstacles.
By investing in AI-powered technology, healthcare providers can significantly reduce burnout and enhance the overall efficiency of their practices, ultimately leading to better patient care and outcomes.
