Put “Pajama-Time” To Rest With An AI Scribe
Did you know that burnout affects nearly half of all U.S. physicians, costing about $4.6 billion every year due to turnover and reduced productivity? And one major reason they feel burned out is the EHRs. It’s not uncommon for physicians to spend more time updating EHRs than spending time with their patients. EHR tasks not only take valuable clinic time away from direct patient interactions but also spill into after-hours, forcing physicians to catch up on charts at home—what’s known as “pajama-time.” Can an AI scribe reduce excessive after-hours EHR work and increased burnout levels? Yes, by eliminating manual note-taking and transcribing visits in real-time, an AI scribe enables more meaningful patient interactions, fewer late-night charting sessions, and a better work-life balance.
What Is Pajama Time And Why Is It A Problem
Pajama Time" refers to the extra hours physicians spend to complete EHR documentation after clinic hours, often at home. Physicians already have long, demanding workdays. But the work doesn’t end when they leave the clinic. Many find themselves logging back into the EHR system from home, often late at night, to catch up on unfinished charts. This after-hours documentation, known as “pajama-time,” eats into personal and family time, leaving physicians exhausted and struggling to disconnect from work. It blurs the line between professional and personal life, making it difficult for physicians to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Over time, this constant cycle can lead to burnout, affecting both the physician’s well-being and the quality of patient care.
The Toll of Pajama-Time on Physicians
The effects of pajama-time go beyond just losing a few hours of sleep. It leads to increased stress, mental fatigue, and decreased job satisfaction. Physicians who regularly work late into the night catching up on charting report higher levels of burnout, lower productivity, and even a greater likelihood of leaving the profession altogether. The emotional toll also affects their ability to stay focused and present during the day, making them less engaged and empathetic during consultations. Eventually, this cycle of exhaustion and stress can take a deep emotional toll, making it harder to find meaning in daily practice.
After-Hours EHR Work By Specialty
Physicians across specialties spend significant time on EHR tasks outside their scheduled hours, often cutting into personal time. Here's how
- Primary care, infectious disease, and endocrinology physicians spend about 2.7 hours each day on EHR tasks after seeing patients. Most of this time goes into managing their inbox, writing visit notes, and entering orders.
- Hematology and nephrology physicians spend over 2.5 hours after hours on EHR work, mainly because they handle more complex patient cases.
- Surgical specialties like orthopedics, general surgery, and ENT spend around 1 to 1.5 hours after hours on EHR work, likely because their documentation needs are a bit lighter.
- Anesthesiologists spend the least time about 30 minutes after hours on EHRs, since their charting requirements are minimal.
Inbox management and documentation drive much of this extra work, making EHR burden a major factor in physician burnout.
How An AI Scribe Can Help
The AI scribe is a powerful tool designed to effortlessly automate the entire documentation process. They can listen in real time, capture clinical details, and generate accurate, structured notes directly into the practice’s EHRs. This means less manual entry, fewer after-hours tasks, and more focus on delivering quality care. Physicians can wrap up their work within clinic hours, leaving them with more personal time and mental energy. Moreover, with reduced documentation burden, physicians can take control of their time, leading to better job satisfaction and improved well-being. Ultimately, integrating an AI scribe into clinical workflows can help physicians break free from pajama-time, supporting a healthier work-life balance and better patient care.
Real World Success Story
AI scribe technology is showing real promise in reducing after-hours charting, commonly referred to as “pajama time,” for physicians.
A new JAMA Network Open study conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that when physicians used an AI scribe, they spent 20% less time on EHRs and their after-hours work dropped by 30%. This resulted in physicians gaining two additional minutes with each patient during visits and about 15 extra minutes of personal time each day.
A 10-week pilot in California showed that primary care doctors spent less time documenting during visits and after work when using an AI scribe.
Conclusion
Getting home with the day’s charting done may seem like a fantasy for many physicians, but with an AI scribe it is possible. AI scribes can automate the documentation process and generate EHR-ready notes in just minutes, allowing them to finish their work during clinic hours. This eliminates the need for late-night charting giving physicians more time for themselves and their families. By easing the documentation workload, AI scribes reduce burnout, improve job satisfaction and help maintain a healthier work-life balance. Reclaim your time! Focus on what matters most and put an end to the vicious cycle of after-hours work and burnout.
Looking to get more personal time and reduce the stress of documentation? With Scribe4Me AI, you can finally leave after-hours charting behind. Spend your evenings with your loved ones, not your EHR, and get back the time you rightly deserve.