Did you know that doctors and nurses spend more than a third of their work week on paperwork? This includes maintaining detailed patient records, filling out insurance forms and referrals, and tracking procedures performed. This includes documenting, organizing documents for billing, and entering billing information into the system. Research published today by Google Cloud and The Harris Poll reveals the extent of this burden, and how generative AI (gen AI) can help.
Clinicians, including doctors and nurses, in the United States report spending nearly 28 hours each week on administrative tasks, leaving them with less time for the patient care that really matters. No wonder 82% of clinicians report experiencing burnout. This is not just a doctor's problem. Insurance staff face an even greater amount of administrative work, spending 36 hours a week on administrative tasks such as maintaining member records and filing claims.
Burnout, errors, and reduced patient contact time
This administrative overload is causing many of the healthcare industry's biggest challenges.
Burnout and understaffing: 82% of clinicians, 81% of medical staff, and 77% of claims staff agree that administrative tasks contribute to burnout. Furthermore, 85% of healthcare provider executives and 78% of payer executives report that excessive administrative tasks are contributing to staffing shortages. Less time with patients: 8 in 10 healthcare providers say administrative tasks reduce the time they spend with patients, and 68% say administrative tasks reduce the time they spend with patients. Masu. This is likely to have a negative impact on quality of care. This opinion is echoed by 93% of clinicians, 88% of medical staff, and 94% of claims staff who believe that a reduced administrative burden would allow them to spend more time caring for patients. Increased risk of human error: Two-thirds of healthcare providers and 89% of payers express significant concern about human error in administrative operations, with 22% and 49%, respectively, “very” concerned The answer is yes.
Generative AI solutions
However, there is a promising solution that can help with many of these tasks: gen AI. The survey found that healthcare professionals are open to using generative AI, with 91% of providers and 97% of payers feeling positive about AI's potential to reduce administrative burden. He says he feels it. The general public feels the same way, with 72% of respondents saying that using AI to give healthcare providers more time to consult is a valuable way to do so. . Here are some ways Gen AI can help.
Create clinical documents such as discharge summaries, progress notes, and referral letters that facilitate retrieval of patient documents and medical records, and pre-fill forms that give clinicians more time to focus on document review and finalization. Obtain prior approval faster by flagging and suggesting potential issues Reduce turnaround time for medical image processing by creating early drafts of relevant clinical guideline reports and help radiologists prioritize complex cases and collaborate more effectively.
While AI cannot replace human compassion and expertise in healthcare, it can support healthcare workers and allow them to focus on people instead of paperwork. By reducing administrative burden, AI can pave the way for more efficient, accurate, and human-centered systems that keep patient needs at the forefront.
