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How AI Scribe Technology is Reducing Physician Burnout and Enhancing Patient Care
Family physicians are the cornerstone of healthcare, providing essential care to millions of Canadians. However, the increasing administrative burden—particularly documentation—has led to growing physician burnout, reduced time with patients, and even career dissatisfaction. In response, a groundbreaking initiative led by the eHealth Centre of Excellence and the Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) at the University of Toronto is set to change the landscape of primary care.
With the support of a $1 million Health Care Unburdened Grant, this multi-partner initiative aims to implement and evaluate AI scribe technology, including AutoScribe, to enhance medical record documentation and allow family doctors to focus on what matters most—their patients.
The Need for AI Scribes in Family Medicine
Family doctors spend nearly 45% of their clinical hours on documentation. This means nearly half of their workday is dedicated to charting rather than direct patient care. The result? Increased physician fatigue, decreased satisfaction, and an overwhelming workload that discourages new doctors from entering the field.
“In family medicine, the patient-physician relationship is crucial. The need to take notes on a device or look at a screen during appointments can be a barrier to meaningful connections,” says Dr. Rajesh Girdhari, a family physician at Unity Health Toronto and Digital Health Lead at DFCM’s Office of Health System Partnerships. “Our goal is to investigate and accelerate the use of AI scribe technology in primary care to benefit family doctors, patients, and the health system.”
The Role of AutoScribe in Physician Workflows
The Health Care Unburdened Grant will support the integration of AI scribes across multiple health organizations, including East Toronto Health Partners, North York Toronto Health Partners, and Scarborough Ontario Health Team. These AI-powered tools, like AutoScribe, are designed to seamlessly transcribe patient-physician conversations in real time, reducing the burden of manual data entry.
Dr. Marco Lo, a family physician and member of the East Toronto Family Practice Network, shares his firsthand experience with AI scribes:
“The biggest benefit of the AI scribe for me is that it has increased the quality of the patient-physician encounter. Without the stress of documentation or deferring charting to after-hours, I can focus entirely on the patient and what they are telling me. Then, I can fully focus on generating a plan and discussing next steps. This has created a better experience for my patients and for me as a clinician.”
By automating note-taking, AI scribes free up valuable time, allowing physicians to spend more time engaging with patients and making well-informed clinical decisions.
Overcoming Barriers to AI Scribe Adoption
Despite the clear benefits, the adoption of AI scribes has been slow due to concerns around privacy, system compatibility, and lack of change management support. This initiative aims to address these challenges by providing the necessary resources to ensure AI scribe technology is seamlessly integrated across diverse healthcare settings.
The project team will be recruiting family physicians in Ontario to participate in the study and help refine AI scribe implementation strategies. By working closely with physicians, the initiative will help tailor AI solutions to fit various practice models and ensure compliance with privacy regulations.
A Collaborative Effort to Transform Healthcare
This two-year initiative is made possible by funding from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), MD Financial Management Inc. (MD), and Scotiabank as part of their broader $115 million commitment to supporting physicians and their communities.
By investing in AI scribe technology, this initiative represents a significant step toward unburdening family doctors, reducing burnout, and improving patient care across Ontario and beyond.
Join the Movement
The future of healthcare is evolving, and AI scribe technology is at the forefront of this transformation. If you’re a family physician in Ontario interested in learning more about AutoScribe or participating in this initiative, reach out to our team today.
Let’s work together to reduce administrative burden, restore the patient-doctor connection, and create a more sustainable future for primary care.
