A new study conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, including Kevin B. Johnson, MD, MS, the David L. Cohen University Professor at Penn, demonstrates how an artificial intelligence-powered “scribe” can improve patient care by reducing the time clinicians spend on electronic health records (EHRs).
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that clinicians using the AI tool spent 20% less time on EHRs, with a 30% reduction in after-hours work—often called “pajama time.” This translated to two additional minutes of face-to-face patient interaction per visit and 15 extra minutes of personal time daily.
Johnson, who directs Penn Medicine’s Artificial Intelligence for Ambulatory Care (AI4AI) Lab, highlighted the tool’s potential to ease physician burnout and enhance primary care. “These results provide a glimmer of hope in an era where we need to expand the healthcare workforce,” he said.
Clinicians also rated the AI system highly for ease of use, with 65% recommending it. One physician surveyed for the study commented to the researchers: “I legitimately think this technology, once optimized, is the biggest advancement for outpatient primary care providers in decades.”
Penn Medicine continues to refine this AI-driven approach, aiming to further streamline documentation and improve the clinician-patient relationship.