It is no secret that Canadian physicians are struggling with the heavy burden of patient-related paperwork in their practices. With physician burnout reaching all-time highs, and with some physicians even making the difficult decision to close their practice doors for good, many are actively seeking solutions. One increasingly popular solution among Canadian physicians is the adoption of artificial intelligence tools, known as AI Scribes.
What Are AI Scribes and How Do They Work?
AI Scribes are artificial intelligence tools designed to capture spoken conversations and transform them into concise, readable notes. AI Scribe tools vary in how they operate; however, their functionality typically follows a similar pattern. Generally, a physician starts by recording the conversation with the patient using the AI tool. Once the appointment concludes, the physician stops the recording, and the AI tool, or the tool’s service provider, will instantly generate a Subjective, Objective Assessment and Plan (“SOAP”) note for the physician that can be directly copied into the patient’s medical record. In most cases, the recording itself is destroyed upon transmission and personal health information within the note is de-identified by the tool.
What are Professional Regulatory Bodies Recommending in New Brunswick when Using AI Scribes?
The Province and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick have yet to release any guidelines specifically relating to the use of AI Scribes. However, we are starting to see other jurisdictions weigh in on the professional and medico-legal implications of this technology.
What Are Other Professional Regulatory Bodies Recommending?
Provinces and Colleges with guidelines for using AI Scribes in the practice setting emphasize the need for informed consent from patients prior to the use of an AI Scribe tool, or alternatively, a separate consent form should be used. Doctors Manitoba further emphasizes the importance of consent, especially if the AI Scribe tool records or transcribes entire conversations between the physician and patient prior to generating a SOAP note.
Regarding patient confidentiality, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia advises informing patients about the AI Scribe tool’s nature, associated risks, and potential benefits. Similarly, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario reminds physicians to uphold their legal and professional obligations, including responsibilities as custodians of personal health information when using AI Scribes in their practice. Both the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and Alberta highlight the necessity for accuracy with respect to AI generated SOAP notes and emphasize that physicians remain accountable for the information entered into a patient’s medical record.
Moving Forward
AI Scribes are relatively new, yet they may become helpful tools in reducing burnout and the amount of administrative work. Physicians considering the implementation of an AI Scribe in their clinical practice should monitor policies and guidelines at the provincial and federal levels, as well as those released by their jurisdictional College and the Canadian Medical Society.
Lauren Lipsett, Legal Department
