Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham researchers found that pairing generative AI ambient documentation tools with a virtual scribe significantly reduced after-hours work and documentation delays for physicians.
A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine evaluated 181 primary care physicians and advanced practice providers across 14 Massachusetts General Hospital adult primary care practices. Clinicians used a hybrid system in which ambient documentation technology generated draft visit notes, while a remote human scribe entered finalized notes into the electronic health record.
After 50 days, researchers reported a sustained 41% decrease in time clinicians spent in the EHR outside standard hours, along with a 66% drop in notes left incomplete two days after a visit. Productivity, measured through work relative value units, increased 12%.
The study analyzed metrics across an 80-day window that included a 30-day adjustment period to the hybrid program. Researchers measured after-hours EHR activity, note completion timelines and financial productivity indicators.
Mass General Brigham said in a news release shared with Becker’s that the program informed broader deployment of ambient documentation technology across the system. Since a July 2023 proof-of-concept pilot, use has expanded to more than 4,000 providers.
The health system’s digital department continues to study the impact on clinicians and operations, including comparisons between hybrid and fully automated AI models.
Researchers noted several limitations, including voluntary participation and a lack of data on job design, which may influence after-hours work. Because the study was conducted within a single health system, more research is needed to determine whether the findings apply to other settings.
