I started incorporating an AI scribe into my clinic about a year ago.
At first, it actually slowed me down.
I was already in the habit of closing my charts consistently during the day, and adjusting to a new workflow took some time.
Now, it’s become very helpful, especially as I’ve shortened my follow-up visits and my clinic days have become more compressed.
But what I’ve noticed is this:
Even with better tools, many physicians are still charting at night.
The assumption
There’s an assumption that if we just had better tools, faster systems, or more efficient workflows, everything would fall into place.
And while tools like AI scribes can absolutely help with documentation, they don’t address the deeper issue.
What actually drives the day
What I see over and over again with physician moms is that the way we think during the workday matters more than the tools we’re using.
Thoughts like:
“I’m behind”
“I’ll finish this later”
“This needs to be perfect”
These thoughts shape how the day unfolds.
They lead to rushing, multitasking, and leaving charts open.
And those open charts don’t just disappear.
They follow you into the evening.
Why this still happens (even with AI)
AI can help generate notes.
It can reduce the cognitive load of documentation.
But it doesn’t change:
- how you move through your day
- how you make decisions in the moment
- how you relate to your work
And that’s often where the real pattern lives.
The shift that changes everything
One of the most powerful shifts I teach is what I call the Mentor Mind.
Instead of moving through the day reacting and trying to keep up, your Mentor Mind approaches things differently.
It slows things down.
It focuses on one patient at a time.
It closes the chart before moving on.
Not because there is more time.
But because there is a different way of thinking.
What this creates
When you approach your day this way, something starts to change.
The workday feels more contained.
Charts don’t accumulate in the same way.
And the evening becomes yours again.
Most physician moms don’t actually want to be more productive.
They don’t want better time management systems.
What they really want is to finish work and be done.
To be present with their families.
To not think about charts after dinner.
To feel like their time is their own again.
That’s what becomes possible when work stays at work.
I help physician moms stop charting at night and get their evenings back.
