Photo caption: Dr. Onil Bhattacharyya conducting AI testing in virtual care lab.
By: Katie Fraser, Communications Advisor, Strategic Communications, Women's College Hospital
Burnout affects more than half of Canada's doctors and nurses, creating a ripple effect in the ongoing shortage of care providers throughout our health system. Nearly 20 per cent of Toronto family doctors plan to close their practices in the next five years, either to seek new opportunities or retire.
To tackle this issue, scientists at Women's College Hospital (WCH) are innovating new ways to reduce administrative burdens, streamline care and support wellbeing among providers.
Putting Artificial Intelligence to the Test
In a virtual care lab at WCH, cameras adorn the walls of a clinical room as a physician and volunteer patient enact a typical appointment. A team of scientists and computer engineers gather around their screens in a separate room to analyze a stream of the footage, diligently noting how much time is spent engaged with the patient or how often the clinician turns to their computer. At the heart of their focus is a new artificial intelligence (AI) scribe that is designed to improve the care experience for both patients and providers.
According to the Ontario Medical Association, family doctors spend 19 hours per week on administrative tasks, including four hours writing notes or completing forms for patients. In partnership with OntarioMD and eHealth Centre of Excellence, scientists at the Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV) conducted a study aimed at reducing this workload using AI scribes.
After extensive testing in the lab with promising results, the team brought the AI scribes to the front lines for implementation in a primary care setting. A cohort of 150 family doctors and nurse practitioners joined the study over a three-month period, using AI scribes to summarize conversations with their patients into detailed electronic medical notes.
The study also included the use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), or bots, to automate actions documented by the AI scribe during patient visits, such as sending appointment reminders to patients.
The results of this study are encouraging.
Providers reported spending 70 to 90 per cent less time on paperwork and saved up to four hours per week doing administrative tasks, thanks to the AI scribes.
“The findings of this evaluation show the potential this technology has in addressing the issue of burdensome administrative work in primary care," shares Dr. Onil Bhattacharyya, director of WIHV. “In turn, providers will have more time to focus directly on their patients."
In fact, 79 per cent of participants said they were able to spend more time on patient care through the support of AI scribes and would adopt the technology in the future.
While implementing these new tools comes with a price tag, the benefits of reimagining the relationship between health care and technology are numerous. Beyond reducing burnout, AI scribes show promise in allowing primary care providers to see more patients, reducing wait times and making care more accessible across the health system.
For Dr. Bhattacharyya, the future is bright. “This is an exciting time with so much potential impact for our health system. Our team is proud to offer high-quality, large-scale evaluations of digital health technologies, such as AI scribes, and to work with our partners to inform the future of health care delivery in Ontario."
The Importance of Peer Support
In the high-pressure world of health care, burnout is common. For providers who have nowhere to turn, sometimes the most effective support comes from those who truly understand the demands of the job and have faced the same challenges. This is the essence of the Peers for Joy program, a groundbreaking peer coaching initiative developed by Dr. Noah Ivers and Jennifer Shuldiner, PhD, scientists at Women's College Hospital.
The Peers for Joy program is a shining example of how innovative, collaborative approaches can make a significant impact in tackling physician burnout. Family physicians who are struggling with the pressures of their roles are being matched with trained peer guides – experienced colleagues who offer mentorship and practical strategies for improving well-being, managing stress and preventing burnout. These peer guides help their fellow physicians optimize their time, delegate tasks effectively, enhance workflow and foster healthier communication and collaboration within their practices. They also emphasize the importance of boundary-setting to ensure a sustainable work-life balance.
Since its inception, the program has trained 47 peer guides, who have collectively supported 82 peer learners. Dr. Ivers and Shuldiner are thrilled with the results so far.
Family physicians who have participated in the program report gaining valuable tools to manage stress, improve their daily routines and feel more supported in their roles.
“The qualitative feedback we've received is incredibly encouraging," shares Dr. Ivers, a family physician and one of the program's co-creators. “Many of the learners have asked if they could transition into coaching roles for the next cohort of doctors. It's powerful to see physicians not only benefit from the program but also want to give back and support their peers in turn."
The program's success has been so remarkable that it is now transitioning to a virtual model, which will allow more family physicians to benefit from peer coaching. In the latest phase, 22 new peer guides are set to support 50 additional doctors, with plans to scale further in the future.
Shuldiner highlights the broader implications of expanding the Peers for Joy initiative. “By scaling this peer coaching program, we have the potential to strengthen the healthcare system as a whole," she explains. “Not only can we improve physician well-being and retention, but we can also enhance the quality of care physicians provide. The more doctors who have access to this type of support, the better equipped they will be to manage the challenges of their profession and rediscover the joy in their work."
Moreover, by training additional peer guides, the program is building a community of physician wellness ambassadors – leaders who can help foster a culture of shared learning and mutual support in the medical field. This kind of collaborative spirit is exactly what is needed to tackle the pervasive issue of burnout and ensure that health care providers are equipped to thrive in their roles.
At its core, the Peers for Joy program demonstrates a simple yet powerful truth: when health care providers are well-supported, they are better able to support their patients. By focusing on the well-being of physicians, these innovative initiatives at WCH are creating a more sustainable health care system where physicians are empowered to prioritize their wellness so that they, in turn, can focus on what they care about most – their patients.