AI Scribes for Burnout

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Disqualifiers: Hospital-based clinics, In-person scribes, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if AI scribe software helps doctors document patient visits more efficiently and reduces burnout. It will compare two AI tools, DAX Copilot and Abridge AI Scribe, against traditional methods to identify the most effective approach. Doctors in outpatient clinics at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, who have a high clinical workload and do not use human scribes, may be suitable participants. The trial will randomly assign participants to use one of the AI scribes or continue with traditional documentation. It will measure effects on doctor burnout, clinical efficiency, and patient experience. As an unphased trial, this study offers a chance to contribute to innovative solutions that could enhance healthcare efficiency and reduce doctor burnout.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications. It seems focused on using AI scribe software, so it's unlikely to affect your medication use.

What prior data suggests that AI scribe software is safe for use in clinical settings?

Previous studies have shown that AI assistants like Abridge AI and DAX Copilot reduce doctor burnout without compromising safety. Research indicates that these AI tools significantly cut the time doctors spend on paperwork. Specifically, using Abridge AI resulted in a 74% reduction in doctor burnout, allowing doctors to feel less stressed and focus more on their patients.

Similarly, DAX Copilot has been linked to a reduction in burnout, with some studies noting a decrease of up to 70%. Doctors reported feeling less frustrated with paperwork. Additionally, DAX Copilot improved doctor engagement without negatively impacting patient safety or experience.

Overall, both AI assistants have been well-received by users, with no reports of serious problems related to their use. This suggests they are safe options for helping doctors manage their workloads better. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about AI scribe technologies like Abridge AI Scribe and DAX Copilot because they offer a novel approach to addressing burnout in healthcare professionals. Unlike traditional methods that might focus on reducing workload through time management or stress relief techniques, these AI scribes aim to lighten the administrative burden by efficiently documenting patient interactions. This allows healthcare providers to focus more on patient care rather than paperwork. By potentially improving workflow and reducing stress, these AI tools could redefine how medical professionals manage their time and energy, making them an exciting addition to the healthcare landscape.

What evidence suggests that this trial's AI scribe treatments could be effective for reducing physician burnout?

Research has shown that AI scribes can help reduce stress and exhaustion among doctors. In this trial, participants will join different groups to evaluate the effectiveness of these tools. For example, studies have found that the number of doctors feeling burned out dropped from 51.9% to 38.8% after using the Abridge AI Scribe during patient visits. Participants in one arm of this trial will gain access to the Abridge AI Scribe. Similarly, DAX Copilot has been shown to lessen the paperwork load and reduce frustration for healthcare providers, which also helps lower burnout. Another arm of this trial will provide participants with access to the DAX Copilot. These AI tools do not affect patient safety or care, making them promising for improving clinic operations. Overall, both Abridge and DAX Copilot have strong evidence supporting their effectiveness in reducing burnout among healthcare providers. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for outpatient providers at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta who are experiencing burnout. They must be willing to use AI scribe software and participate in surveys about their experience, including burnout, efficiency, and fulfillment.

Inclusion Criteria

Provider (MD, DO, APP) in an outpatient practice at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in a specialty supported by integrated ambient AI scribe software, including Urgent Care and Emergency Department

Excludes providers working in hospital-based clinics due to lack of availability of workflow integration into the EHR

Has high clinical workload during pilot period

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants are randomized to use either DAX Copilot or Abridge AI scribe software, or continue with traditional documentation methods

4 months

Regular outpatient visits

Crossover

Participants in the intervention groups may switch to the other AI scribe vendor for comparison

1-2 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in documentation efficiency and burnout

4 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Abridge AI Scribe
• DAX Copilot

Trial Overview The study tests if AI scribes (Abridge AI Scribe or DAX Copilot) can make doctors' documentation work easier and reduce feelings of burnout compared to traditional methods. Providers will be randomly assigned to an AI tool or continue with usual practices.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention - Abridge Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Gains access to Abridge AI scribe

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

No access to AI scribe

Group III: Intervention - DAX Copilot Active Control 1 Intervention

Gains access to DAX Copilot AI scribe

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Lead Sponsor

Trials

172

Recruited

108,000+

Citations

1. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2839542

Use of Ambient AI Scribes to Reduce Administrative ... On 10-point scales, the ambient AI scribe was associated with significant improvements in secondary outcomes of burnout (mean [SE] difference, ...

2. medicine.yale.edu medicine.yale.edu/news-article/ai-scribes-reduce-physician-burnout-return-focus-to-the-patient/

AI Scribes Reduce Physician Burnout and Return Focus to the ... After using the AI scribe for patient visits, the percentage of physicians reporting burnout dropped from 51.9% to 38.8%—representing 74% lower ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12492056/

Use of Ambient AI Scribes to Reduce Administrative Burden ... On 10-point scales, the ambient AI scribe was associated with significant improvements in secondary outcomes of burnout (mean [SE] difference, ...

4. rheumatologyadvisor.com rheumatologyadvisor.com/news/ambient-artificial-intelligence-scribe-linked-to-reduction-in-burnout/

Ambient Artificial Intelligence Scribe Linked to Reduction in ... The researchers found that the proportion of participants experiencing burnout decreased significantly from 51.9 to 38.8 percent after 30 days ...

5. ai.jmir.org ai.jmir.org/2025/1/e76743

Real-World Evidence Synthesis of Digital Scribes Using ... This framework guided assessment on how digital scribes influenced patient outcomes (eg, engagement and satisfaction), clinician outcomes (eg, ...

6. massgeneralbrigham.org massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/press-releases/ambient-documentation-technologies-reduce-physician-burnout

Ambient Documentation Technologies Reduce Physician ... Researchers will evaluate whether burnout rates improve over time as the AI evolves, or if these burnout gains plateau or are reversed. “Ambient ...

7. ama-assn.org ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/how-much-can-ambient-ai-scribes-help-cut-doctor-burnout

How much can ambient AI scribes help cut doctor burnout? This study “validates and extends the work of early adopters, observing a net reduction of 13.9 percentage points in burnout and a reduction of ...