Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all around us these days. It’s on your phone with Siri, and on your computer browser, searching information for you in Google. It’s in your homes if you have Alexa or Google Home, on your social media, and in customer service when you get connected to a ‘bot’ to answer your questions before you can ask to ‘speak to a human!’.
Here at HCCA we have started to notice AI becoming part of the way health care is provided, and our members have told us that AI has become part of their GP and specialist appointments. So, what does this look like?
Some clinics in the ACT are now using AI programs summarise health appointments. It’s like having a scribe listening and taking notes during your appointment. It then creates a summary (which becomes part of your patient notes) of what’s been discussed at the end.
This tool is becoming increasingly popular with GPs and Specialists because they often have limited time in or between appointments to make notes. They are often trying to multi-task between listening, examining, typing a referral, printing a pathology request or prescription, taking notes, answering urgent calls and preparing for appointments.
AI can be good for consumers too. It can record information more quickly than a person can - it can ensure the health professional is recording all your concerns and not missing things you’ve said. AI has ‘machine-learning’ -it can learn and improve from feedback- and it can interpret themes and extrapolate information from what you have said. It is immediate, and you can ask for a copy of your appointment summary.
However, there are some consumer concerns with the use of AI. Health professionals must be transparent whether and how they use it, and what happens to people’s personal information. It’s important that consumers can review the information AI collects and summarises about them, to make sure it is correct. This is another part of healthcare where consumers need to give informed consent about the use of AI in appointments.
A health professional using AI should:
- be clear and transparent that they are using an AI program to record the information in the appointment and get your consent.
- identify which program they are using and how this program handles your sensitive information.
- ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained and access to your information is not shared without your consent.
Have you had any experience with AI being used at your health appointments? HCCA would love to hear about your experience! You can share it by emailing adminofficer@hcca.org.au (or let us know if you would like a call). Members can look out for a forum on this topic, later in the year. | 
