The benefits of AI medical scribes

If you’re like the 75% of Australian doctors experiencing burnout, using an AI medical scribe can help lighten your workload.
 
Using generative AI, scribes listen to consultations, extract clinically relevant information and automatically create detailed clinical documents – which still require review and approval by a doctor.
 
However, AI medical scribes remain underutilised in healthcare. RACGP research found 83% of GPs never or rarely use AI. While Avant’s data revealed only 11% of doctors use AI medical scribes. 
 
The technology, however, offers significant advantages.
 
Reduced administration 
Consider the countless hours you’ve spent writing consultation notes, letters and other documentation. An AI medical scribe can help alleviate this burden. 
 
Enhanced patient care 
AI medical scribes help doctors focus fully on their patients during consultations. Freed from typing notes, they can maintain eye contact and engage in meaningful conversations. 
 
One large pilot program on AI medical scribes, involving 10,000 doctors in a US regional healthcare system, found doctors reported more personal and meaningful interactions.
 
‘I even had a patient praise the fact that I could listen instead of type during the visit,’ one doctor noted.
 
Locally, the RACGP’s Health of the Nation 2024 report shared similar feedback, with one GP saying ‘it enables me to look at the patient and have a great consultation’.
 
‘Their story unfolds naturally, and I no longer feel the need to interrupt for clarification,’ they said.
 
‘Medico-legally, my notes are more detailed. I am enjoying my work more since adopting this technology.’
 
More accurate, detailed documentation 
Given AI medical scribes listen to an entire consultation and quickly extract the most relevant details, they can help produce more detailed clinical notes and documents.  
 
For instance, with Avant Practice Solutions’ VoiceBox Scribe, you can create multiple documents using the same source data (i.e. the recorded consultation). This eliminates the need to copy and paste notes, reducing human errors. 
 
What to look for in an AI medical scribe
Here are three qualities to look for when choosing a scribe for your practice:
 
A reputable, tested solution – not all AI scribes are built for healthcare. Those specifically designed for healthcare are trained on clinical data and capable of identifying medically significant information.  
 
It’s important to seek a solution from a trusted provider. VoiceBox Scribe is backed by Avant’s reputation as Australia’s largest medical indemnity insurer. It’s been rigorously tested to help ensure it is fit for clinical settings and compliant with data privacy legislation.   
 
Practice software integration – if an AI medical scribe doesn’t integrate with your existing systems, such as your practice management or messaging platform, you need to spend time manually transferring data between your scribe and these platforms. 
 
VoiceBox Scribe integrates with practice management solutions Best Practice, Coreplus and Gentu. 
It also connects with messaging platforms HealthLink and Medical-Objects, allowing you to send referral letters directly, eliminating the need for manual uploads.
 
Cost-effective – many AI scribes require signing up for a monthly or annual subscription, so no matter how much you use your AI scribe, you pay a flat rate.  
 
VoiceBox Scribe offers pay-per-use pricing, with an hourly fee. This flexibility makes it cost-efficient for practices of all sizes, helping to ensure you only pay for what you need. Plus, your first hour of use every week is free. 
 
Run a more efficient practice
Our suite of practice solutions such as Voicebox Scribe can help improve efficiency and give your practice a competitive edge in a digital world.
 
The information in this publication does not constitute legal, financial or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. It is intended only to provide a summary and general overview on matters of interest and it is not intended to be comprehensive. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in this publication must exercise their own independent skill or judgment and seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular circumstances. Compliance with any recommendations will not in any way guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients and others coming into contact with the health professional or practice. Avant Practice Solutions and its related entities are not responsible to any person for any loss suffered in connection with the use of this information. Information is only current at the date initially published. © Avant Mutual Group Limited 2025.
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

AI artificial intelligence Avant