Artificial Intelligence Tools Cut Doctor Charting Time by Almost Seventy Percent

2026-09-21 companies

Toronto, Sunday, 20 September 2026.
A University of Toronto study found artificial intelligence scribes slashed physician documentation time by 69%, though doctors still used scratchpads to preserve critical diagnostic thinking during patient visits.

Study Findings and Documentation Efficiency

A recent study led by University of Toronto PhD student LaShawn Murray demonstrates that artificial intelligence scribes can reduce physician documentation time by 69.1% during simulated primary care visits [1][2]. Published in JAMIA Open on 15 September 2026, the research involved nine physicians conducting simulated patient encounters to compare workflows with and without AI assistance [1][2]. Data indicates that without AI scribes, physicians spent 36.3% of each visit on note-taking, which dropped to 11.2% when using the technology [3][6]. This reduction represents a calculated decrease of 69.146 percent in documentation burden relative to the original time spent [3][6]. The findings were reported widely across medical and financial news outlets during the week of 15 September 2026, highlighting the potential for significant labor efficiency gains in healthcare systems grappling with administrative overload [1][2].

Operational Implications for Healthcare Providers

The financial and operational implications of adopting AI documentation tools are substantial for healthcare enterprises seeking to optimize labor efficiency and lower operational costs. Healthcare workers are experiencing burnout, which is associated with compromised patient safety and increased potential for errors, and can contribute to physician turnover [1]. By reducing the strain of administrative tasks, AI scribes aim to decrease the necessity for physicians to complete charting after hours or days post-appointment [1]. However, payment models rather than the technology itself will decide whether AI lowers costs for physicians and patients, according to Caroline Pearson of the Peterson Health Technology Institute [3]. Independent medical practices face significant legal, regulatory, and clinical risks when adopting AI tools due to a lack of informatics oversight, necessitating a structured evaluation framework [3].

Cognitive Workflow and Diagnostic Thinking

Despite the efficiency gains, researchers noted nuanced changes in clinical workflows, specifically regarding cognitive load and diagnostic thinking. When using AI scribes, some physicians adopted scratch pads to maintain cognitive workflows, highlighting the link between note-taking and diagnostic thinking [1]. The most interesting finding for the research team was seeing how physically creating the charts throughout the appointment prompted thinking and more clinical decision-making questions from the doctors [1]. When the scribes were in use, the adoption of scratch pads for note-taking helped physicians remember to ask follow-up questions, suggesting the technology alters rather than simply removes the cognitive labor of documentation [1]. This indicates that while administrative time is reduced, the intellectual process of charting remains a critical component of patient care [1][5].

Future Implementation and Regulatory Oversight

Future research is required to evaluate AI scribe performance in everyday clinical practice, specifically addressing patient receptivity, consent issues for recording, and potential impacts on diverse patient populations [1]. Using AI-assisted notetaking raises questions about human oversight, and maintaining protocols for accurate records will remain essential as more providers incorporate AI tools into everyday practice [4]. In the Canadian context, ongoing research is focused on addressing challenges related to data diversity, accessibility, and patient privacy to ensure safe integration [5]. As of 20 September 2026, the technology is viewed as one piece of the overall documentation burden, rather than a complete solution to administrative strain [1]. Healthcare attorneys emphasize that while time savings are clear, the governance of data access and accuracy remains a critical priority for the industry moving forward [4][5].

Sources

Healthcare AI Physician Productivity