New study exposes impact of non-clinical administration on physician burnout

Executive Summary

• Dr.Bill’s 2025 study finds Canadian physicians spend an average of 7.5 hours per week on non‑clinical administrative tasks, contributing significantly to burnout.
• 72% of surveyed physicians say these tasks drive burnout; 78% report reduced job satisfaction and 77% say they limit patient time.
• The study highlights billing as the most time‑consuming task and calls for technological and policy solutions to alleviate the burden.

Key Details

• Survey sample: ~500 Canadian physicians across multiple specialties, collected via an online survey in July 2025.
• Average non‑clinical administrative workload: 7.5 hours per week (≈1 full day).
• Top pain points: billing, bookkeeping, professional insurance/finance management, committee work, office management.
• Key statistics:
• 72% say non‑clinical admin contributes significantly to burnout.
• 78% report reduced job satisfaction.
• 77% state admin workload reduces time with patients.
• 50% believe their administrative burden is worsening.
• Billing identified as the single most time‑consuming and challenging non‑clinical task.
• Recommendations: implement “one‑stop” tools, AI automation for repetitive tasks (form completion, note‑taking, coding), and align compensation models with care complexity.

Notable Quotes

“The conversation around administrative burden and burnout isn't new, but what often gets overlooked are the non‑clinical tasks that quietly drain clinical time. The data makes it clear: this work is eroding the time physicians can spend with patients and fueling burnout across the profession,” – Maris Lush, CEO of Dr.Bill.