Patient perspective on AI scribes

Physicians have been quick to embrace AI scribes. The American Medical Association (AMA) found that 66% of U.S. physicians were using some form of AI in their practice by 2024, up from 38% the year before. A January 2025 Medical Group Management Association poll found that AI tools are now the top technology priority for health care organizations, with 32% ranking them first. The advantages reported by early adopters include reduced documentation time, the ability to focus on the patient, improved diagnosis and accurate coding, enhanced efficiency, and perhaps reduced physician burnout. The next consideration is patient satisfaction with the AI scribes. This article will focus on evidence of patient satisfaction and on informing patients that AI will be recording the doctor-patient interaction.

Human scribes manually document encounters in real time and, in randomized trials, are more than 4 times as likely to produce notes that physicians rate as accurate compared with standard self-documentation. Automated speech-recognition dictation systems generally have higher error rates, typically 7% to 11%, owing to the complexity of medical jargon and accent variability. Modern ambient AI scribes report lower overall error rates (about 1% to 3%) but introduce distinct failure modes, such as AI hallucinations (AI-generated content that appears plausible but lacks a basis in reality), critical omissions, misattribution, and contextual misinterpretations, creating new safety challenges.

Research from organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, The Permanente Medical Group, Mass General Brigham, and Stanford Health Care has consistently reported high patient satisfaction with ambient AI.

Since using scribes in the exam room and now with the use of ambient AI, it is important to obtain the patient’s permission to record the doctor-patient interaction. When patients were asked about the best time during their care experience to be informed that a digital tool would be taking notes, they strongly favored early notification. Most patients (57%) preferred face-to-face notification, while many (45%) accepted email notification.

A survey conducted by UC Davis Health provided valuable guidance on communicating the transition to AI scribe.

The team incorporated multiple educational touchpoints to secure buy-in, prioritizing face-to-face discussions with patients. One of our important takeaways was that it was necessary to educate patients about what the AI scribe could and could not do. In addition, to ensure complete accuracy, the clinician checks and edits the notes before they are placed into the EMR. Patients can also review and advise their clinicians on possible corrections. Ultimately, if a patient is not comfortable with the system, they can opt out.

Suggestions to let patients know their doctor is using an AI scribe include:

1. Keep it simple and reassuring

"During your visit, I’ll be using a secure AI assistant to help take notes so I can focus fully on you. This tool only records medical details we discuss, and your information is kept private and protected."

2. Emphasize benefits for the patient

"I use an AI scribe to document our conversation in real time. This means I can spend more time listening to you and less time typing, while still keeping accurate records for your care."

3. Invite questions and allow patients to be in control

"I use a secure AI tool to help with notetaking. It doesn’t replace me. It just helps me keep thorough records. If you’d like, I can explain exactly how it works or turn it off at any time."

The advice of early adopters includes:

• Be transparent: Explain what the AI does and what it doesn’t do.
• Highlight privacy: Reassure them about HIPAA compliance and data security.
• Focus on care quality: Show how it benefits them directly.
• Offer choice: Let them opt out if they’re uncomfortable.

Below is an educational form that serves as a consent form you might consider using to obtain patient permission to use an ambient AI scribe.

The evidence to date regarding ambient AI is encouraging, although it is still developing. The strongest finding is not that patients are excited about artificial intelligence itself, but that patients appreciate physicians who are more attentive, make better eye contact, and spend less time looking at a computer. Ambient AI scribes appear to deliver those benefits without reducing patient trust when they are introduced appropriately.

As with any new technology, problems will occur. For example, with ambient AI Research on AI scribes, it has been found that there is a documentation gap between what is said during consultation and what is transcribed. For example, in the United States, there are higher error rates for African American patients than their white counterparts.

Patients from different cultures, disadvantaged groups, or individuals with low literacy levels may also have issues with transcription from voice to text in ambient AI. These groups are more likely to opt out of accepting ambient AI.

Bottom line: The success of ambient AI will ultimately hinge on striking the optimal balance between automation and human oversight, ensuring that the technology enhances rather than compromises the quality of clinical documentation and alleviating physicians from the mind-numbing data entry into the EMR.

Sample patient consent form for an ambient AI scribe

Consider this scribe consent script before giving the patient the consent form

“Before we begin, I want to let you know that I use a secure AI assistant to help take notes during our visit. This allows me to focus more on listening to you and less on typing. The AI only records medical details we discuss, and your information is kept private and protected under the same confidentiality rules as all your medical records.

If you’re comfortable, we’ll use it today. If not, I can turn it off and take notes manually, whatever you prefer.”

Helping your doctor spend more time looking at you and not the computer

During your visit, your doctor may use an ambient AI medical scribe. This technology listens to the conversation between you and your doctor and creates a draft of the medical note for your visit.

What does using the AI scribe mean for you?

Instead of typing on a computer or taking notes during your appointment, your doctor can focus on what matters most: you.

Using an AI scribe allows your physician to:

• Make more eye contact and have a more natural conversation.
• Listen more carefully to your concerns.
• Spend less time typing and more time providing care.
• Complete documentation more efficiently.

Is my information private?

Protecting your privacy is very important. The AI scribe is designed to create medical documentation for your visit. It follows the same privacy and security standards that apply to your medical record, including HIPAA requirements. Your doctor reviews, edits if necessary, and approves every note before it becomes part of your medical record.

Does the AI make medical decisions?

The AI does not diagnose illnesses, recommend treatments, or make decisions about your care. It is simply a documentation tool. Your physician remains completely responsible for your medical care and every decision that is made.

What if I don’t want the AI scribe used?

If you prefer not to have the AI scribe used during your visit, please let your doctor or a member of the health care team know. We will be happy to discuss other documentation options.

Our goal is to improve your experience by allowing your doctor to spend less time on the keyboard and more time listening, explaining, and caring for you. Thank you for allowing us to use technology that helps us provide more personal, attentive, and efficient health care.

Please initial this form which indicates you have read the consent to use ambient AI and that I have answered all your questions. ___________ Date_____________

Baum is a professor of clinical urology at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the author of Marketing Your Clinical Practice: Ethically, Effectively, Economically.