AI Scribes Can Boost Your Doctor’s Productivity and Reduce Burnout Rates

Summary

WSJ Tech News Briefing: AI Scribes Can Boost Your Doctor’s Productivity and Reduce Burnout Rates
Release Date: May 29, 2025

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Introduction

In the May 29, 2025 episode of WSJ Tech News Briefing, host Victoria Craig delves into two pivotal advancements in technology: the expansion of satellite internet to bridge the rural broadband gap in America and the deployment of AI scribes in healthcare to enhance doctors' productivity and mitigate burnout. This comprehensive discussion highlights the latest trends, expert insights, and the broader implications of these technologies on consumers and industries alike.

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Bridging the Rural Broadband Divide with Satellite Internet

Overview The United States faces a significant challenge with 24 million Americans lacking reliable broadband Internet access, particularly in rural areas. While fiber optic cables remain the gold standard for high-speed connectivity, their extensive installation costs make them impractical for remote locations. As a result, satellite internet has emerged as a viable and cost-effective alternative.

Expert Insights Patience Hagen, a WSJ reporter covering digital advertising and broadband, provides an in-depth analysis of this shift:

• Satellite Viability: "Satellite Internet used to be a lot more shaky. Now it's much better. It's still not nearly as reliable as fiber optic cables, but a lot of states are turning to it because it can be a lot less expensive than laying fiber optic cables out to one remote house that might be miles away from anything else." (02:09)

• Economic Considerations: For ultra-remote areas, fiber installation can escalate to six-figure expenses, which states are typically hesitant to subsidize. Satellite offers a more affordable compromise, enabling broader coverage without the prohibitive costs associated with fiber infrastructure.

Policy Shifts Originally, under the Biden administration, broadband expansion programs prioritized fiber optic deployments unless cost-prohibitive, in which case alternative technologies like satellite were considered. However, ongoing reforms spearheaded by the Commerce Department under the Trump administration aim to make these programs tech agnostic, potentially allocating more funds to satellite providers.

• Impact on Satellite Providers: "The companies that stand to benefit from this are Elon Musk's Starlink, which is a unit of SpaceX and is already providing satellite Internet service, and Amazon's Project Kuiper, a new initiative that isn't providing service yet but is already launching satellites and is already winning government contracts to provide service." (04:15)

Current Status and Future Implications The Commerce Department is in the process of reviewing the proposed reforms, placing broadband offices in a holding pattern. States with pre-existing broadband plans may need to revise their strategies to align with the new guidance, potentially accelerating the adoption of satellite internet solutions.

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AI Scribes in Healthcare: Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Burnout

Introduction to AI Scribes In the realm of healthcare, ambient listening software—a form of AI— is revolutionizing how doctors document patient interactions. By transcribing conversations and filtering out non-essential chatter, these AI tools streamline the documentation process, allowing physicians to focus more on patient care.

Adoption and Implementation Laura Landrieu, a WSJ contributor, sheds light on the adoption and functionality of AI scribes:

• Current Usage: "Overall AI usage, which includes usage for all kinds of help with diagnostic thinking, getting information and guidelines, it's out there quite a bit. But this is a new and very interesting application of AI, which is what they call ambient listening..." (05:59)

• Deployment: Initially embraced by large healthcare systems and academic medical centers like Stanford Healthcare and the University of Michigan, AI scribes are gaining traction as healthcare consolidates into larger entities seeking economies of scale.

Functionality and Benefits AI scribes provide a 360-degree approach to patient visits:

• Pre-Appointment: The AI aggregates relevant patient data, highlighting past tests and ongoing issues to inform the upcoming consultation.

• During Appointment: It captures key discussions, suggests medical guidelines, and identifies symptoms that may require further testing without overstepping into diagnostic roles.

• Post-Appointment: The AI generates comprehensive notes for the doctor to review, eliminating the need for manual note-taking and significantly reducing administrative burden.

Impact on Physicians "AI is supposedly making the doctor's job easier. And there's been a lot of studies that have shown that it's already reduced burnout. The doctors feel that it's so much more helpful... It's knocked off precious minutes at the end of their workday that they have to look at these notes, create these notes, write them from scratch." (07:42)

Addressing Concerns and Risks While the benefits are substantial, Laura Landrieu acknowledges potential challenges:

• Patient Privacy: "The permission of the patient has to be obtained. It's consent... the patient gets a summary afterwards, which they can look at and say, that's not what I said." (09:43)

• AI Accuracy and Hallucinations: Instances where AI misconstrues information, such as misrecording a prostate examination as completed or misdiagnosing hand, foot, and mouth disease, highlight the need for meticulous doctor review. "There's nothing done until the doctor passes on it. The clinician is the last word." (09:43)

• Data Security: AI scribe technologies ensure that recordings are not stored long-term, mitigating risks associated with data breaches. "The recording is transcribed and checked by the physician, but then it's gone." (10:47)

Future Potential The conversation hints at further integration of AI in healthcare, envisioning a scenario where AI assists not just in documentation but also in preparing for appointments, ongoing patient management, and providing real-time support during consultations.

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Conclusion

The May 29th episode of WSJ Tech News Briefing underscores the transformative impact of both satellite internet and AI in their respective fields. Satellite technology is poised to bridge the digital divide in rural America, driven by evolving policy frameworks and the economic advantages it offers. Meanwhile, AI scribes are set to redefine the healthcare landscape by enhancing physician efficiency and tackling burnout, all while navigating the complexities of privacy and accuracy. As these technologies continue to evolve, their integrated application promises to foster more connected and efficient environments for both consumers and professionals.

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Notable Quotes:

• Patience Hagen [02:09]: "Satellite Internet used to be a lot more shaky. Now it's much better. It's still not nearly as reliable as fiber optic cables, but a lot of states are turning to it because it can be a lot less expensive than laying fiber optic cables out to one remote house that might be miles away from anything else."

• Patience Hagen [04:15]: "The companies that stand to benefit from this are Elon Musk's Starlink, which is a unit of SpaceX and is already providing satellite Internet service, and Amazon's Project Kuiper, a new initiative that isn't providing service yet but is already launching satellites and is already winning government contracts to provide service."

• Laura Landrieu [07:42]: "AI is supposedly making the doctor's job easier. And there's been a lot of studies that have shown that it's already reduced burnout. The doctors feel that it's so much more helpful... It's knocked off precious minutes at the end of their workday that they have to look at these notes, create these notes, write them from scratch."

• Laura Landrieu [09:43]: "The permission of the patient has to be obtained. It's consent... the patient gets a summary afterwards, which they can look at and say, that's not what I said."

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing a clear and comprehensive overview for those who haven't tuned in.

Transcript

[Amazon Business]

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[Victoria Craig]

Hey TNB listeners, before we get started, heads up. We're going to be asking you a question at the top of each show for the next few weeks. Our goal here at Tech News Briefing is to keep you updated with the latest headlines and trends on all things tech. Now we want to know more about you, what you like about the show, and what more you'd like to hear from us. So our question this week is how often do you want new episodes and how long do you want them to be? Do you want shorter shows more often or longer shows less frequently? If you're listening on Spotify, look for our poll under the episode description or you can send us an email to tnbsj.com now onto the show. Welcome to Tech News briefing. It's Thursday, May 29th. I'm Victoria Craig for the Wall Street Journal. The government is turning to outer space to get rural areas of America online. But who does it really benefit then? Doctors used to be the ones summarizing appointments with patients. Now there's an AI tool for that. Why? Some experts say this only scratches the surface of how artificial intelligence can be deployed in medicine. But first, 24 million Americans lack reliable broadband Internet access. Fiber optic cables offer the most reliable long term service, but they're expensive to install. So so satellites have become a much cheaper and quicker alternative, especially for rural areas of the country. WSJ reporter Patience Hagen has written about a growing number of states now rolling out subsidies for satellite connectivity. Patience, why are these states switching to a fiber first strategy?

[Patience Hagen]

It's happening now because satellite Internet has in some ways it's finally caught up in terms of quality and price. It's a realistic cost effective option. Satellite Internet used to be a lot more shaky. Now it's much better. It's still not nearly as reliable as fiber optic cables, but a lot of states are turning to it because it can be a lot less expensive than laying fiber optic cables out to one remote house that might be miles away from anything else. For some of these super remote locations, it can get into the six figures and states are typically pretty reluctant to subsidize that with public funding. So they end up choosing satellite as a compromise.

[Victoria Craig]

And this funding is coming from a Biden era program that focused on broadband. But it's the Commerce Department now that is working to overhaul it to be essentially tech agnostic. Is that right?

[Patience Hagen]

Yes, they absolutely are. This program was designed to bring broadband high speed Internet to every location in the country that still doesn't have it. And under the Biden administration, it was expected to favor fiber. The Biden administration designed the program's rules in a way that said you had to build fiber cables to every location unless it was too expensive. Then you could turn to other technologies like satellite. So satellite was expected to be part of the mix and receive some of the funding under the Biden administration. But now with the reforms that the Trump administration is talking about, it looks poised to receive a lot more of this funding.

[Victoria Craig]

And how soon could those reforms happen?

[Patience Hagen]

The Commerce Department is reviewing it. So we're all waiting to find out when the new guidance comes. Virtually every state broadband office is in a holding pattern right now. Some states that had their plans all written up still can't get their funds, and other states are paused and wondering whether they'll have to rewrite their plans for the new guidance.

[Victoria Craig]

Could this change be a boon for companies like Elon Musk's Starlink or Amazon's new satellite program? Who really stands to benefit from these changes, aside from just consumers who get Internet faster and maybe cheaper?

[Patience Hagen]

The companies that stand to benefit from this are Elon Musk's Starlink, which is a unit of SpaceX and is already providing satellite Internet service, and Amazon's Project Kuiper, a new initiative that isn't providing service yet but is already launching satellites and is already winning government contracts to provide service.

[Victoria Craig]

That was Patience Haggin, a reporter covering digital advertising and broadband for the Wall Street Journal. Coming up, AI scribes are saving doctors time and helping to reduce burnout rates. But what does it mean for you as a patient? That conversation after the break.

[Amazon Business]

Every business starts with an idea. How can you go from daydreamer to industry leader? Amazon Business accelerates your journey with smart business buying. Get everything you need to grow in one familiar place. From office supplies to it essentials and maintenance tools. Amazon Business takes a buying experience you know and love from Amazon plus tools that help you save costs and make insights based decisions ready to bring your visions to life. Learn [e-mail].

[Victoria Craig]

If you've ever been to the doctor and forgotten bits and pieces of the conversation that might have been Helpful once you got home. Ambient listening software might be the solution. It's a kind of AI that's being deployed in some outpatient appointments and doctors have been finding it useful to summarize conversations while filtering out all the casual chit chat about weather and sports. WSJ contributor Laura Landrough has written about these new documentation methods. Laura, how widespread is the adoption of this kind ofTech?

[Laura Landrieu]

Overall AI usage, which includes usage for all kinds of help with diagnostic thinking, getting information and guidelines, it's out there quite a bit. But this is a new and very interesting application of AI, which is what they call ambient listening, which is almost as if the hospital walls or the doctor's walls may have ears. It's a technology that actually captures what happens in the doctor patient encounter or in any medical encounter and transcribes it. But not just like a regular transcription. It actually focuses just on the important things that are being said, gets the ambient chit chat out, things like how was the weather? What did you do this weekend? And differentiates between voices. It's just starting to be widely adopted, but a lot of it is starting out in those big healthcare systems. It's an academic medical center, it has hospitals, doctor's offices. So it's a lot of the bigger systems. But of course a lot of healthcare now is being consolidated into bigger systems just for economies of scale. So you'll see it when you go to Stanford Healthcare, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, big systems like Ardent Healthcare, which is based in Tennessee and has hospitals in many different states.

[Victoria Craig]

And one of those chief medical information officers you spoke to for your story said that this is really just scratching the surface of what AI can do in doctor's offices. So if it's doing sort of the things that humans might do if after an appointment a doctor might record some notes and then a transcriptionist typ those up. What more then could AI do to make doctors and patients lives easier?

[Laura Landrieu]

One of the things they're looking at it having be a 360 degrees before, during, after the medical visit. So the AI starts looking into the fact that there's going to be a doctor's appointment and they start gathering data like this needs to be followed up on from the previous test or this is a result that came that we never really did anything about or this is what the patient has been complaining about. So it starts off the appointment with a doctor being a little more informed about what this patient's issues are. And then during the appointment it's picking up news, discussions of symptoms, maybe Suggesting guidelines as the doctor is talking to the patient, a medical guideline. Now, it's not diagnosing because that's the doctor's job. But it might say if this patient is recording that he feels a certain fatigue or that he's got low blood sugar feelings, it might say something like, he should be checked. He or she should be checked for a diabetes test. Maybe you need to give them a certain blood test. And then afterwards there isn't going to be any human scribe doing that. But the doctor absolutely must review the note. Nothing is done until the doctor passes on it. So it isn't like AI is taking over everything. But AI is supposedly making the doctor's job easier. And there's been a lot of studies that have shown that it's already reduced burnout. The doctors feel that it's so much more helpful. It's all been transcribed, and then they can review it and see if there's anything else that they need to change or add. But it's knocked off precious minutes at the time at the end of their workday that they have to look at these notes, create these notes, write them from scratch.

[Victoria Craig]

So it's helpful to help doctors prompt but not diagnose. Still, though, I can almost hear our listeners screaming, wait, what about things like patient privacy or hallucinations when AI just makes things up? How are providers accounting for all of that? And is there ability for some patients, if they don't want AI listening, they would prefer a doctor to just take notes on their own. Is there an ability to opt out of that?

[Laura Landrieu]

Oh, absolutely. The permission of the patient has to be obtained. It's consent. And as long as the patient consents, they can say, yes, this is what we're going to do. And of course, the patient gets a summary afterwards, which they can look at and say, that's not what I said. And by the way, yes, hallucinations. We all know that that's a problem in AI and it hasn't completely gone away by any means. There was a study that came out of Kaiser Permanente, a permanente medical group, which is out in California. And in the study that they did, they found a few instances of hallucination. They said, in one example, the physician mentioned scheduling a prostate examination, and the AI scribes summarized that a prostate examination had been performed. And then in another, the doctor mentioned issues with the patient's hands, feet and mouth. And the AI summary recalled the patient being diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease. So not always 100% correct, which is why everybody who's using this will tell you right up front, the doctor has to review it. The clinician is the last word.

[Victoria Craig]

Are there any other risks associated with this technology?

[Laura Landrieu]

We all know about data breaches. One of the things that these AI scribe technologies do is the actual recording is not maintained. In other words, the recording is transcribed and checked by the physician, but then it's gone. It's not something that they're keeping on some server somewhere that someone's going to hack.

[Victoria Craig]

That was Laura Landrieu, a contributor for the Wall Street Journal. And that's it for Tech News Briefing. Today's show was produced by Julie Chang with supervising producer Melanie Roy. I'm Victoria Craig for the Wall Street Journal. We'll be back this afternoon with TNB Tech Minute. Thanks for listening.

[Amazon Business]

Every business starts with an idea. How can you go from daydreamer to industry leader? Amazon Business accelerates your journey with smart business buying. Get everything you need to grow in one familiar place. From office supplies to IT essentials and maintenance tools, Amazon Business takes a buying experience you know and love from Amazon plus tools that help you save costs and make insights based decisions ready to bring your visions to life. Learn [e-mail].