The 2025 Physician Sentiment Survey (PSS), conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by athenahealth, reveals a striking shift in physician attitudes towards their work, technology and the future of healthcare. Compared to 2024, the survey shows a meaningful decline in burnout and a renewed sense of engagement among physicians. A central driver of this change is the rise of artificial intelligence, which is beginning to fulfil its promise by easing administrative burdens and enhancing workflows. As AI continues to mature, it appears to be not only improving operational efficiency but also restoring a sense of purpose and satisfaction in clinical practice, helping many physicians reconnect with the aspects of medicine they value most.
Positive Shifts in Physician Sentiment
The most significant finding in the 2025 PSS is the nearly 10 percent drop in physician burnout compared to the previous year. There has also been a notable decline in the number of clinicians considering leaving the profession, indicating a reversal of a concerning trend observed in 2024. Encouragingly, over two-thirds of physicians surveyed stated that they looked forward to coming to work at least once a week. This reflects a growing optimism among clinicians and suggests that the pressures of recent years may be beginning to ease. Physicians are reporting that they are rediscovering the joy in their work, a welcome change in sentiment that stands in contrast to the more negative outlook captured in earlier surveys.
Much of this renewed positivity appears linked to technology, particularly AI, which is now seen as contributing positively to daily practice. Many physicians feel that healthcare is heading in the right direction and that technology is starting to live up to its promise of supporting care delivery. Electronic health records (EHRs), once a source of frustration and a key driver of burnout, are now being enhanced with AI capabilities that reduce the time and effort required to complete routine tasks. This evolution in technology is helping physicians feel more supported, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than administrative burdens and represents a major shift in the way clinicians view digital tools.
AI and the Documentation Burden
Among the most significant developments identified in the survey is the rise of ambient AI note generation. In the 2024 survey, many physicians expressed cautious optimism, but also scepticism about AI, fearing it would become yet another layer of complexity. However, the 2025 results suggest a change in perception. Over two-thirds of physicians who use AI reported an increase in its use for clinical documentation over the past year. Many now identify its greatest potential as improving documentation quality and reducing administrative workload—two of the most pressing challenges in modern healthcare.
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The increasing use of AI to support clinical documentation has had a tangible impact. Physicians recognise that technology can effectively handle repetitive tasks, such as note-taking, allowing them to devote more attention to patient interactions. This development aligns with athenahealth’s approach to AI implementation, which prioritises reducing the administrative burden before extending AI into more sensitive areas of care. The strategy reflects an understanding that technology should support, not replace, human judgement. By focusing first on the practical challenges clinicians face, such as the documentation load, AI has demonstrated clear value without disrupting the doctor–patient relationship.
There is also growing awareness of the potential for AI to assist in other areas, such as patient communications. While not yet universally applied, there is a recognition that carefully designed AI tools could play a role in managing certain aspects of communication without losing the human touch. For now, the success of ambient note generation shows how targeted AI applications can enhance workflow and wellbeing.
Patient Communication and Information Overload
Despite improvements in technology, patient communication remains a growing source of pressure for physicians. The 2025 PSS shows that 74% of respondents feel increasingly overwhelmed by the volume of messages from patients. During the pandemic, patients became accustomed to digital interactions, and this trend has continued, placing more demands on clinicians' time. Although 73% of physicians agree that patient portals have made communication easier, the expectation of constant availability has become an additional burden.
This creates a paradox: physicians appreciate the tools that support patient engagement but struggle with the pressure these tools create. The expectation to be reachable at all times, every day of the week, is contributing to stress, even as communication tools themselves are viewed positively. Managing this tension requires a more strategic use of technology. AI could offer a solution by handling routine inquiries and filtering messages, allowing physicians to focus on more complex or urgent matters. Automating responses, while still allowing clinical oversight, could help establish boundaries and reduce the feeling of being constantly “on call”.
Another persistent challenge is information overload. According to the survey, 95% of physicians said that receiving the right clinical data at the right time is crucial, while 73% indicated that having relevant patient information readily accessible is key to simplifying care. AI tools have the potential to help in this area as well, by extracting and summarising relevant data so clinicians can focus on what matters most. By addressing both communication demands and data management, AI can support a more sustainable and manageable workload.
The 2025 Physician Sentiment Survey signals a hopeful shift in healthcare, with AI emerging as a meaningful ally in the effort to reduce burnout and improve practice efficiency. As physicians report renewed optimism and engagement, it is clear that AI, when implemented with care, is helping reclaim time, restore purpose and simplify the complexity of modern medicine. Athenahealth’s measured approach, focusing first on administrative relief before expanding to other areas, demonstrates how AI can be a force for good. Moving forward, continued success will depend on keeping physicians at the centre of technological development, ensuring AI enhances care delivery while preserving the integrity of the clinical relationship.
Source: athenahealth
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