In a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and Rock Health, half of the respondents reported having used AI tools for at least one use case at work. This suggests a significant tipping point in adopting AI in primary care, indicating that AI is becoming an integral part of clinicians' workflows.
The survey, part of the Advancing AI and Digital Health for Primary Care Initiative, collected responses from 1,267 primary care physicians and clinicians between Sept. 18 and Nov. 4, 2024. Participants shared their experiences of using artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital health tools.
Clerical support emerged as the most common use, with 32% of respondents utilizing AI for tasks such as documentation, scheduling, and administrative work. Half of the 32% reported using AI daily for these tasks, highlighting growing support for AI in streamlining clerical duties and reducing administrative burden and burnout. (For more details on specific administrative tasks that AI tools can ease, see “The Promise and Pitfalls of AI in Primary Care” from the March/April 2024 issue of FPM.)
While clerical support remains the predominant use case, the survey showed a noticeable expansion in clinical applications of AI. Approximately 23% of respondents indicated that they have used AI for clinical purposes, such as diagnostic support, treatment recommendations, and patient monitoring. This growing comfort with clinical AI tools reflects the potential for AI to enhance patient care and support clinical decision-making. Still, more work is needed to make AI trustworthy for broad adoption in clinical tasks.
Despite the positive trends in AI adoption, obstacles remain. The survey revealed that the majority of clinicians (65%) have limited or no input on AI purchasing decisions, which can hinder the integration of AI tools in their practice. Additionally, most respondents expressed the need for liability protections and ethical guidance for AI use, underscoring the importance of addressing these concerns to foster more widespread acceptance of AI in primary care.
With half of the survey respondents already using AI tools at work, it is clear that AI is poised to play a significant role in the future of family medicine and health care at large. Significant majorities said that within the next three years they expect AI to improve their clinical efficiency in several areas, and 70% expect it will improve their well-being. As clinicians continue to explore and embrace AI for clerical and clinical purposes, addressing the remaining obstacles and providing necessary support will be crucial to ensuring the successful integration of AI into primary care practices. The AAFP is committed to helping eliminate the obstacles to adopting responsible AI to improve the primary care experience for family physicians and their patients.
— Steven Waldren, MD, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, American Academy of Family Physicians
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Posted on April 18, 2025 by FPM Editors
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