Can Generative AI Ease the Burden of Clinical Documentation?

Across the United States, healthcare providers are turning to generative AI to help with one of their most time-consuming and mentally tiring tasks: writing clinical notes.

At first, many health systems used AI to make office work easier. Now, more are using it to improve how doctors and nurses work through a method called ambient clinical documentation. These tools record and summarize conversations with patients as they happen, which helps:

• Reduce stress and burnout for clinicians.

• Make daily work more efficient.

• Improve the overall patient experience.

Reclaiming Time and Focus Through Ambient AI

Writing notes has always taken up a lot of time and mental energy for doctors. Ambient AI tools now listen to and summarize doctor-patient conversations in real time. This means doctors can pay full attention to their patients instead of typing during the visit.

Cleveland Clinic: Eye Contact Over Keyboards

The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, known for heart care and medical research, tested ambient AI tools to help reduce burnout and improve note-taking. The system records visits and creates medical notes automatically.

After a successful test, the tools were used in more areas. Doctors said having fewer notes to type helped them make better eye contact and build stronger relationships with patients.

The AI-generated notes also helped teams work better together by providing clear and timely patient information.

Kaiser Permanente: Scaling Ambient AI Across Systems

Kaiser Permanente, a large healthcare system serving over 12 million people across several states, has used ambient AI widely. It now supports thousands of doctors across many locations.

So far, it’s made a big difference. Doctors say it’s helped improve their conversations with patients, reduced the amount of paperwork, and supported their overall well-being. With AI handling summaries, doctors could think more clearly and focus more on patient care.

Reid Health: Easing the Strain on Rural and Urban Providers

Reid Health in Indiana serves both city and rural areas. Like many small systems, it deals with too much paperwork and not enough providers.

After using ambient AI, Reid cut after-hours note-taking by about 60%. Now, providers can finish most documentation during the workday, helping with work-life balance. AI summaries of phone calls also helped them follow up with patients more quickly and improve care.

Riverside Health: Reducing Admin Load, Boosting Satisfaction

Riverside Health, a community-based system on the East Coast, used ambient AI to lower paperwork demands.

They saw a 50% drop in after-hours note-taking and an 87% improvement in how fast they responded to patient calls. Doctors said they felt more satisfied with their jobs and less overwhelmed, thanks to having fewer notes to write.

Ambient AI as an Antidote to Burnout

These new tools help reduce burnout by lowering the time spent on manual note-taking.

Doctors across many health systems say the biggest benefit is spending more time face-to-face with patients. With AI handling notes in the background, providers can focus more on care and less on admin work.

Ethical and Privacy Considerations Still Require Attention

But like any new technology, ambient AI also brings up privacy and ethical concerns.

Some risks include mistakes in what gets recorded or patients feeling uncomfortable being recorded. It’s important to be clear with patients that AI is being used and to follow strong data security rules like HIPAA to protect privacy.

Doctors also want to make sure that conversations still feel natural, and that technology supports—rather than interrupts—the human connection in care.

A Glimpse Into the Future of Clinical AI

Looking ahead, generative AI could do more than just write notes.

Newer AI tools may combine voice tone, facial expressions, and other clues to better understand how a patient feels. For example, AI could notice if a patient sounds upset or looks confused during a video call and alert the doctor to check in.

To do this well, health systems and AI developers will need to keep working together to make sure the tools are useful and ethical.

Reimagining Care With AI That Supports, Not Replaces

As healthcare faces more paperwork and rising burnout, ambient clinical documentation is becoming a powerful solution. Stories from health systems show it can boost doctor satisfaction, improve how care is delivered, and help operations run more smoothly.

To reach its full potential, these tools must be used with care, transparency, and a focus on helping—not replacing—the human side of medicine.

About HealthUnity

HealthUnity is a diverse collective of AI experts, researchers, strategists, healthcare professionals, and nonprofit leaders dedicated to breaking silos in healthcare. We drive innovation to improve health outcomes and enhance lives globally through open research, generative AI, and data-driven collaboration. Follow HealthUnity on LinkedIn and join the discussion!

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