Evaluating the impact of artificial intelligence scribes on clinical documentation in primary care: a simulation study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) scribes and their impact on clinical documentation time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Artificial intelligence scribes were assessed using clinical simulations with 9 primary care physicians, each conducting 4 simulated encounters with standardized patients with and without the use of an AI scribe. Clinical simulations were audio and video recorded, and videos were coded for documentation behaviors using a designed coding scheme. RESULTS: Clinical documentation accounts for 36.3% of the simulated clinical encounter without the use of the AI scribe, whereas primary care physicians spend 11.2% of the simulated encounter on clinical documentation when using an AI scribe. The use of AI scribes accounts for a 69.1% reduction in documentation time. DISCUSSION: Clinical simulations offered a controlled and realistic environment to assess the impact of AI scribes on primary care physicians' workflows, demonstrating their potential to reduce documentation time. CONCLUSION: Artificial intelligence scribes demonstrate potential to alleviate the burden of clinical documentation, addressing a critical factor contributing to physician burnout. Further research is needed to understand the impact of AI scribes in real-life clinical settings across complex patient scenarios.