Increasingly, technology should save time. So how will it be spent?
Better technology is often assumed to lead to better care. But is this the case? This Health Foundation Report draws on a combination of clinician surveys, expert interviews, and a rapid review of existing literature to explore how clinicians might use their time saved through the adoption of healthcare technologies.
The findings reveal that clinicians would not devote the majority of saved time directly to clinical care. In fact, only about a quarter of the time would be redirected to direct clinical activities. Instead, clinicians envision using the additional time in diverse ways that support both individual and system-wide improvements.
Some of the time could be used to enhance the quality of patient interactions, allowing for more thoughtful and less rushed consultations. Clinicians also expressed interest in using the time for professional development activities such as training, research, and quality improvement initiatives. These pursuits, while not directly tied to immediate patient care, are seen as essential for maintaining high standards of practice and improving long-term outcomes.
The article emphasizes that these broader uses of time can still contribute significantly to healthcare productivity. For instance, better-trained staff and improved service processes can lead to more efficient care delivery and better patient outcomes. Giving clinicians time to reflect, learn and innovate can support staff wellbeing and retention; factors that are increasingly important in a strained healthcare system.
The authors argue for a more expansive view of productivity in healthcare, one that values not just the quantity of care delivered but also its quality and sustainability. They suggest that healthcare leaders and policymakers should consider and appreciate these broader benefits when evaluating the impact of technology on clinical workflows and time management.
in the real world
Inevitably, the dreaded ‘paperwork’ will cease to loom as large in the daily routine as it now does. Some aspects of clinical care will be semi or fully automated. What then? How can this time be best used? What will the priorities be? Who will decide? This is an important conversation; one that should be held across health, aged and community care, as technology changes the shape of care delivery in all human service sectors.
All accessed 10/05/2025: