AI in the Doctor's Office: A New Way to Listen?

In Philadelphia, some doctors are trying out a new way to take notes during patient visits. Instead of typing, they are using AI tools to listen and record conversations. This helps them pay more attention to their patients. These AI tools do more than just record. They can tell who is talking and leave out small talk. After the visit, they create a detailed summary. This summary includes important medical details and what the doctor recommends. Doctors like this because it saves time. They can focus on the patient instead of typing. Studies show that these tools can cut down on paperwork after work. This means doctors can spend less time on paperwork and more time with their families. But there are some concerns. The AI might make mistakes, like getting a medication dose wrong. It might also struggle with different accents. Doctors must make sure patients agree to being recorded. They also need to keep patient information safe. Some doctors have been using these tools for a while. They say the notes are better than what they could write themselves. But they still need to check the notes for mistakes. There are also questions about privacy. Some patients might not want certain things recorded. For example, if a patient talks about domestic violence, they might not want that on record. Hospitals are being careful with these new tools. They are training doctors on how to use them safely. They want to make sure the technology helps patients and doctors without causing problems.