Ambient AI for Burnout

Overseen By Josie Hintzke

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Disqualifiers: Planned leave, No Apple device, Not on Haiku, Virtual scribe

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 18 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether Ambient Artificial Intelligence (AI) can reduce burnout among healthcare providers and improve their documentation. Participants will use this AI software for medical notes, with three groups starting at different times to determine when it has the greatest impact. This trial suits healthcare providers who work in outpatient clinics, see at least 20 patients a week, and are willing to use technology on an Apple device. As an unphased trial, it offers healthcare providers the chance to explore innovative AI solutions to enhance work-life balance and efficiency.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this method is safe for provider documentation?

Research has shown that healthcare professionals generally receive Ambient AI well. Studies have found that 93% of doctors using this technology can fully focus on their patients, suggesting a positive impact on their work experience. Reports also indicate that doctors experience less after-hours work and lower burnout levels with Ambient AI.

While few studies specifically address safety, the available data does not reveal any major problems or side effects. Since Ambient AI primarily assists with paperwork, it is unlikely to cause physical side effects. Overall, it appears to be a safe way to enhance doctors' work life. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Ambient AI is unique because it uses artificial intelligence to passively listen and analyze speech patterns, helping identify and reduce burnout symptoms. Unlike traditional treatments for burnout, which often involve therapy sessions or medication, this method provides continuous monitoring without active participation. Researchers are excited because this approach could offer a more personalized and immediate way to detect stress, potentially leading to earlier interventions and improved mental health outcomes.

What evidence suggests that Ambient AI is effective for enhancing provider well-being and improving documentation quality?

Research has shown that using Ambient AI for documentation can significantly reduce burnout among healthcare workers. One study found that the number of doctors experiencing burnout decreased from 51.9% to 38.8% after using AI scribes. Another study discovered that these AI tools saved doctors about 8.5% of their time on electronic health records. Over a year, Ambient AI scribes were used 2.5 million times, simplifying documentation and enhancing communication. These findings suggest that Ambient AI not only reduces stress but also provides doctors with more time to care for patients. In this trial, participants will be randomized into different groups to start using Ambient AI at various weeks, allowing for a comparison of its impact over time. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Majid Afshar, MD, MS

Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Joel Gordon, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthcare providers at the UW Health Outpatient Clinic who see at least 20 patients a week. They must be adults, speak English or Spanish, and have completed training to use Ambient AI technology. The goal is to see if this tech can reduce burnout and improve record-keeping.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a healthcare provider at UW Health's outpatient clinic.

I am willing to use new technology.

I have completed the necessary training to use the required tool.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline

Participants complete baseline assessments for provider fulfillment, burnout, and task load

1 week

Treatment

Participants use Ambient AI software for documentation starting at different weeks depending on group assignment

18 weeks

Weekly assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in provider fulfillment, burnout, and task load

6 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Ambient AI

Trial Overview The study tests whether Ambient Artificial Intelligence helps with documentation tasks in a clinical setting, aiming to enhance provider well-being and increase the quality of patient records.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Ambient Listening Group 3 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to this arm will start using Ambient AI at week 19.

Group II: Ambient Listening Group 2 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to this arm will start using Ambient AI at week 13.

Group III: Ambient Listening Group 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to this arm will start using Ambient AI at week 7.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The INTERSTRESS project introduced a novel treatment for psychological stress called Interreality, which combines cognitive behavioral therapy with immersive virtual experiences, allowing users to actively engage in their own mental health.

In a trial with 36 participants, the mobile-based relaxation tool, which uses biofeedback and virtual reality, received positive feedback, indicating its potential efficacy and user acceptance, though further studies are planned to explore cultural differences in its acceptance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Marketing analysis of a positive technology app for the self-management of psychological stress. Wiederhold, BK., Boyd, C., Sulea, C., et al.[2018]

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. 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, ...

3. uchicagomedicine.org uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/research-and-discoveries-articles/2025/november/ambient-ai-saves-time-reduces-burnout-fosters-patient-connection

Ambient AI saves time, reduces burnout and fosters patient ... They found that clinicians using the ambient clinical documentation tool spent 8.5% less total time in the EHR than their matched controls, with ...

4. 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 ...

5. ama-assn.org ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital-health/ai-scribes-save-15000-hours-and-restore-human-side-medicine

AI scribes save 15000 hours—and restore the human side ... After 2.5 million uses in one year, The Permanente Medical Group's ambient AI scribes ease documentation burden, reduce burnout, and improve communication.

6. ama-assn.org ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital-health/ambient-ai-93-doctors-can-give-patients-full-attention

With ambient AI, 93% of doctors can give patients “full ... With ambient AI, 93% of doctors can give patients “full attention”. Study also shows drops in self-reported after-hours work and burnout at ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2514664525002292

A research article assessing the impact of nuance DAX on ... Despite the widespread use of ambient AI clinical documentation packages, there are few studies of their influence on caregiver stress and burnout. Hence ...

8. ruralhealth.us ruralhealth.us/blogs/2025/02/how-ambient-ai-is-transforming-hospital-medicine

How ambient AI is transforming hospital medicine Ambient AI has the potential to address key challenges like physician burnout, administrative workload, and the quality of patient care.