“The Right Time. In Time. On Time.”

When promoting strategies such as improving primary care access and utilization, it is important to understand where the current delivery model stands. While many new technologies promise to improve provider efficiency and productivity, they have not yet fully delivered on that promise despite significant marketing. What continues to show value is allowing providers dedicated time within the clinic day to think about and support patient care, including documentation and follow-up tasks. Research shows that protected time for electronic health record work reduces after-hours burden and improves physician workflow with only minimal impact on productivity (Kanaparthy et al., 2025). Increasing total provider time per patient per day, to a realistic point, remains both a strong clinical and financial strategy with better overall outcomes.

This approach supports what I call providing “The Right Time. In Time. On Time.” Emerging technologies, such as AI-based ambient scribes, may eventually help by reducing documentation burden and freeing more time for direct patient care, though current results show mixed improvements depending on the tool used (Lukac et al., 2025). Benefits leaders and healthcare organizations should continue prioritizing provider time and workflow optimization today, while monitoring technological advancements that may further enhance efficiency in the future. Investing in adequate provider time remains one of the most reliable ways to improve outcomes, strengthen primary care utilization, and ensure sustainable, high-value healthcare delivery.

Lukac, P. J., Turner, W., Vangala, S., Chin, A. T., Khalili, J., Shih, Y.-C. T., Sarkisian, C., Cheng, E. M., & Mafi, J. N. (2025). Ambient AI scribes in clinical practice: A randomized trial. NEJM AI. https://doi.org/10.1056/AIoa2501000

Kanaparthy, N. S., Holmgren, A. J., Sun, Y., et al. (2025). Protected time for electronic health record work and physician productivity. JAMA Network Open, 8(12), e2546550. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.46550