AI tools saturate the healthcare market, yet most private practices remain hesitant to jump in. While smaller teams are intrigued by AI’s potential, they remain wary due to factors like compliance, cost, and patient impact. 

Tebra’s latest survey shows that practices are carefully weighing the risks, rewards, and realities of AI adoption. These 10 stats offer insight into why your peers feel hesitant — and where they identify the most potential.

Widespread AI adoption has yet to reach private practice. While most providers have seen or discussed AI, few have explored it hands-on. Many say they don’t know what’s available and lack the time to learn about new technology.

As Dr. Soma Mandal, MD, internal medicine specialist, explains, "Despite the hype around AI in healthcare, this new data reveals a clear disconnect between innovation and implementation in independent practices. With 63% of providers still not using AI, it's clear that physician AI adoption is being slowed by cost concerns, workflow disruptions, and trust in unfamiliar tech."

Tip: You don’t have to adopt every AI feature at once. Start with one use case that saves 10 minutes per day, like after-hours charting. To get a feel for how AI could streamline your processes, schedule a product demo and ask the vendor to focus on solving your top challenge.

Cost remains a significant hurdle for smaller teams. Private practices with lean budgets need a clear ROI before they commit to AI tools. Affordable, transparent pricing structures are a must. 

Tip: Look for solutions that are upfront about pricing and offer flexible, scalable options that fit your budget and practice needs. For example, Tebra offers customized, transparent pricing in just a few minutes.

Nearly half of survey respondents say they feel overlooked in AI development. The perception that most tools are designed for large health systems, not small practices, is common across private practices.

Tip: Some AI tools are specifically designed for private practices. Tools like Tebra’s AI Smart Staff don’t need a large IT team for implementation, won’t come with lots of unnecessary features, and don’t require complicated infrastructure to run properly. 

Providers report that documentation rushes appointments, creates after-hours work, and contributes to burnout. This makes it a top pain point — and a primary area where AI tools can help.

"The survey [...] shows strong interest in AI tools that reduce documentation time, integrate with existing EHRs, and keep clinicians in control," Dr. Mandal notes.

Tip: If your EHR has built-in AI workflows, try using them to prefill your documentation templates. This simple shift can save you time instantly, allowing you to focus more on patient care.

For busy practices, marginal gains aren’t enough. They need solutions that deliver meaningful efficiency. Time gains from AI need to match or exceed actual time spent on documentation each day.

Tip: Set a realistic time-savings goal, like 30 minutes per day, and track your progress. It may take a few weeks  of minor adjustments and new habits, but the payoff is real: lighter clinician workloads, richer patient interactions, and higher-quality care.

Providers are most open to using AI for low-risk administrative tasks like appointment scheduling. They also see potential in AI tools that prefill documentation templates and suggest ICD/CPT codes.

Tip: Using AI for low-stakes admin tasks helps build trust in the technology. This builds the confidence and experience you’ll need when you’re ready to expand to higher-impact workflows.

The majority of providers in the study welcome AI as a helper, not an author. To prevent errors and protect patient safety, clinicians want final authority over their documentation.

Tip: When you explore AI solutions, ask these key questions:

Look for tools, like Tebra's AI Note Assist, that allow you to edit, customize, and approve every patient note before finalizing.

For early adopters, AI is already delivering benefits. They’re reclaiming hours each week, allowing for more time with patients during the day and more rest in the evening. This reclaimed time leads to stronger provider-patient relationships and sharper clinical decisions.

Tip: The right AI tool doesn’t just save time — it helps you feel done. Look for features that help you move quickly without sacrificing accuracy, so you can leave work at work.

Some examples:

Watch Tebra's free webinar to learn how Tebra helps clinicians reclaim their evenings and reduce burnout.

Practices want AI that fits effortlessly into their existing tech stack without adding steps or complexity. Features like single-login access and smart data syncing are key to avoiding disruption of daily workflows. 

Tip: Look for features like single sign-on via EHR and no tab switching required to start notes. Your AI tool should also fill in your existing note templates (like SOAP or therapy formats) in real time, without needing to copy/paste or reformat.

For small practices, trust in the vendor is almost as important as the tool’s performance. Clinicians are more likely to adopt AI from a familiar software partner on which they already rely. 

Tip: Before looking for a new vendor, check if your current EHR provider offers AI features. Sticking with a trusted partner can minimize integration hassles, communication glitches, and lost revenue.

While private practices are more cautious than large hospital systems, interest in AI is clearly growing. These tools have the potential to transform documentation, ease provider burden, and restore patient care time. 

"For AI in private practice to succeed, solutions must be purpose-built for smaller teams — focusing on real-time savings, seamless usability, and clinical safety, not just bells and whistles," Dr. Mandal says.

The most effective AI tools address those real-world needs, focusing on accuracy, real ROI, and effortless integration. Designed with these priorities in mind, Tebra’s AI Smart Staff breaks the cycle of after-hours charting. Our AI tools offer practical support that dramatically simplifies note-taking and responding to patient reviews without taking control away from clinicians.

Schedule a demo to see how AI Smart Staff works within your existing workflows, creating space in your routine where you and your patients need it most.