AI tool cuts doctors’ paperwork so they can see more patients

A new artificial intelligence tool being tested in Denmark’s healthcare system automatically transcribes medical consultations, freeing doctors from time-consuming documentation and allowing them to focus on patient care, *DR* reports.

During emergency calls to nursing homes, doctors at Odense University Hospital typically have just two to three minutes to assess a patient’s condition—checking vital signs, speaking with staff, and documenting everything for medical records. Now, an AI-powered tool records the entire conversation, distinguishes between speakers, and generates a draft note for the patient’s file.

**”I usually spend about 10 minutes writing a report after each visit. With this, I barely have to do that at all,”** said Søren Kabell Nissen, an emergency physician at FAM Odense. The tool allows him to observe patients and their reactions more closely, rather than being distracted by note-taking.

The system is part of a broader push to integrate AI into Denmark’s public sector, with three large-scale projects aimed at reducing administrative burdens. **”We have more sick patients to care for, so we need doctors and nurses spending time on what matters most—looking at the patient,”** said Mads Duedahl, chairman of Danske Regioner. **”AI can handle the notes.”**

In psychiatry, where Odense’s Local Psychiatry unit conducts 50–60 patient consultations daily, the tool has already shown significant time savings. Zoltan Barkanyi, a consulting psychiatrist, estimates it cuts 30 minutes of paperwork per longer session—saving him **three to four hours a week**. While he cautions it won’t single-handedly eliminate wait times, he hopes it will help meet diagnostic deadlines more efficiently.

Henning Langberg, a professor of public health at the University of Copenhagen, calls the potential **”huge”**, as documentation consumes a major share of healthcare workers’ time. **”This means more time for patients—and room for more patients.”**