Doctors and nurses spend more than a third of their work week on paperwork, which includes tasks like maintaining detailed patient records, completing insurance forms and referrals, documenting procedures, and inputting claims information. A study published by Google Cloud and The Harris Poll reveals the extent of this burden and highlights how generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) could provide a solution.

U.S. clinicians report losing nearly 28 hours a week to administrative tasks, cutting into time they could spend on patient care. Unsurprisingly, 82% of clinicians feel burned out. Insurance staff face an even larger mountain of paperwork, with 36 hours per week spent on administrative duties such as maintaining member records and preparing documentation for claims.

The Impact of Administrative Overload

The administrative burden in healthcare is contributing to some of the industry’s most pressing challenges:

• Burnout and Staffing Shortages: 82% of clinicians, 81% of medical staff, and 77% of claims staff agree that administrative tasks lead to burnout. According to 85% of provider and 78% of insurance executives, excessive paperwork also drives staffing shortages.
• Reduced Time with Patients: Eight out of ten providers say that administrative tasks reduce the time they can spend with patients, and 68% believe this negatively affects the quality of care. Similarly, 93% of clinicians, 88% of medical staff, and 94% of claims staff feel they could devote more time to patient care if their administrative burden were reduced.
• Increased Risk of Human Error: Human error in administrative tasks is a serious concern for two-thirds of providers and 89% of insurance professionals, with 22% and 49%, respectively, being “extremely” worried about mistakes.

How Generative AI Can Help

Fortunately, generative AI offers a promising solution. The study shows that healthcare professionals are optimistic about its potential to alleviate administrative burdens: 91% of providers and 97% of payors feel positive about using AI. The general public also supports the idea, with 72% agreeing that AI could give healthcare providers more time to focus on patients.

Here are a few ways generative AI could help:

• Simplified Searches: AI can make searching patient documents and medical records easier.
• Creating Clinical Documents: AI can help draft clinical documents, such as discharge summaries and referral letters, giving clinicians more time to review and finalize them.
• Streamlining Prior Authorizations: AI can speed up prior authorizations by pre-populating forms, flagging potential issues, and suggesting clinical guidelines.
• Faster Medical Imaging Reports: AI can generate initial drafts of imaging reports, allowing radiologists to prioritize complex cases and collaborate more efficiently.

While AI can’t replace human compassion and expertise at the core of healthcare, it can support professionals by reducing their administrative workload. This frees up more time for patient care, leading to a system that is more efficient, accurate, and focused on what matters most—the well-being of patients.