Cutting the after-hours: How AI scribes are giving clinicians their time back

In Ontario, more than 70% of primary care clinicians report experiencing burnout, a crisis driven largely by a growing administrative workload and a persistent shortage of healthcare professionals. But there is hope on the horizon. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) scribes are starting to ease the load, offering clinicians a chance to reclaim their time and focus on what matters most: patient care.

Amplify Care (formerly the eHealth Centre of Excellence), in partnership with OntarioMD (OMD) and the Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV),  conducted an in-depth evaluation of AI scribes. Funded by Ontario Health, this work explored how these tools might help reduce the burden on family physicians and nurse practitioners, while also improving documentation quality and clinician satisfaction.

Clinician-Led, Evidence-Informed Evaluation

Over 150 clinicians across Ontario participated in our three-month pilot, testing AI scribes in real-world practice settings. A subset of participants also trialed our Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions for automating common administrative tasks documented by the scribe.

The evaluation featured both simulated clinical encounters through the Virtual Care Lab (VCL) and live use in clinical settings. The results were clear: AI scribes significantly reduced the time spent on documentation and helped clinicians complete their work within regular hours.

“This is the first [time] in [20+ years] that I haven’t had to spend time catching up on my notes… [AI scribes have] been a game changer for me personally.”
– Family Physician

Key Findings

Reduced Documentation Time: In simulated environments, clinicians spent 69.5% less time documenting when using an AI scribe (average of 100 seconds vs. 329 seconds per encounter, p<0.001).

Decreased After-Hours Work: In routine practice, clinicians using AI scribes reported three fewer hours per week spent on after-hours charting (p<0.05). Nearly half reported minimal to no after-hours documentation at all.

Improved Well-Being:

• 68% reported reduced administrative burden
• 55% experienced less stress or burnout
• 58% saw improved job satisfaction
• 49% had more time for personal or family life

“My friends and family were surprised at me coming home at a reasonable time… I never thought I’d say this, but I’m beginning to experience the magic of grassroots primary care again!”
– Family Physician

A Promising Start, with More to Come

The early results of this evaluation are compelling. AI scribes are showing real potential to reduce administrative burdens, improve clinician well-being, and support higher-quality care delivery. Still, as with any evolving technology, ongoing evaluation is necessary to ensure sustained benefits and to monitor accuracy, safety, and long-term impact.