Study also outlines how gen AI can improve medical systems and help doctors and nurses provide better care SUNNYVALE, Calif. , Oct. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Google Cloud today announced a comprehensive new research report that reveals the significant amount of time healthcare professionals spend on administrative tasks, and how generative AI (gen AI) could potentially alleviate these burdens and improve patient care.

The report, " Measuring the administrative burden on U.S. healthcare workers—and how generative AI can help ," highlights how administrative burdens contribute to burnout, staff shortages, and less time spent with patients.

However, gen AI – when implemented responsibly with safeguards in place to protect patient data and ensure accuracy – could be a potential game-changer for the healthcare industry. Key findings from the report include: Administrative overload: Clinicians spend nearly 28 hours per week on administrative tasks, while medical office staff and claims staff spend 34 and 36 hours, respectively. This includes maintaining detailed patient records, completing insurance forms and referrals, documenting procedures performed, organizing documentation for claims, and inputting claim information into the system, among other things.

Burnout and shortages: The majority of healthcare providers and payors agree that administrative work contributes to burnout and staffing shortages, with 82% of clinicians, 81% of medical staff, and 77% of claims staff repo.