AI Scribe Tools for Physician Workflow
(AIScribe RCT Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Travel: May be covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?This is a three-arm pragmatic RCT of 238 outpatient physicians at a large academic health system, randomized 1:1:1 to one of two AI scribe tools or a usual-care control group. The two-month study will observe and compare the effects of each tool prior to system-wide roll out of selected tool (anticipated Spring 2025). We will use covariate-constrained randomization to balance the arms in terms of physician baseline time in notes, survey-measured level of burnout, and clinic days per week. The primary purpose of the initiative is to improve quality, efficiency, and business operations at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health, and this initiative is not being done for research purposes. The results of this operational initiative will inform the widespread roll out of AI scribe tools across all providers within the UCLA Health System. Nevertheless, the UCLA study team plans to rigorously examine and publish the impact of this intervention across the health system, which is why the study team pre-registered the initiative.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for outpatient physicians at UCLA Health who are part of a study to see if AI scribe tools can help with their work. Physicians will be chosen based on how much time they spend writing notes, their burnout levels, and how many days they work in the clinic each week.

Participant Groups

The trial is testing two different AI scribe tools against usual care without an AI tool. It's a three-arm randomized controlled trial where each physician has an equal chance of using either Vendor B's tool, Nabla's tool, or continuing normal practices.

3Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Vendor B of virtual AI scribe technologyExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will utilize AI scribe tools from Vendor B and will continue their usual clinical documentation processes, supported by the scribe software, which integrates with the EHR and automatically adds the generated text to the note. The AI scribe tool is transcriptional and does not provide clinical decision support.

Group II: Nabla, Vendor of virtual AI scribe technologyExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will utilize AI scribe tools from Nabla and will continue their usual clinical documentation processes, supported by the scribe software, which integrates with the EHR and automatically adds the generated text to the note. The Nabla AI scribe tool is transcriptional and does not provide clinical decision support.

Group III: No ScribeActive Control1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will not have access to AI scribe tools and will continue their usual clinical documentation processes