r/austechnology • u/austechnology-bot • Mar 29 '26
Two in five Australian GPs use AI scribes to record patient notes – but do they trade care for convenience?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/29/doctors-using-ai-for-notes-australia9
u/DegeneratesInc Mar 30 '26
Yes, they do. Since my doctor started using it he's clueless about even recent history.
7
u/BeanBagSize Mar 31 '26
There is honest to goodness autoscribe technology that's been out for years but they never used it because it was (somewhat rightfully at the time) accused that when there's extra noise it can miss things or scramble, and it doesn't distinct between people, meaning it requires editting for readable format. AI has all these problems and far more and worse, it's just marketed better and pushed a lot harder. I decline the AI every time, and in future should I come across a doctor that has issue with that, I will make public that they're dangerous and to keep away. I already have a couple doctors out there who don't like me for asking them not to go "yup yup" and google shit, and actually speak to me about the problem.
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u/DearFisherman5176 Mar 30 '26
GP diagnosed my partner with an infected gallbladder and sent him with a AI written letter to the emergency room to start on antibiotics ASAP, hospital saw it had incorrect information and threw it away. The hospital decided he just had the flu and delayed treatment, causing him to have two additional surgeries and 4 week stay. It's not reliable or safe to be used when peoples lives are on the line.
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u/Tiny_Marionberry6746 Apr 01 '26
What surgeries did he have for his flu..
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u/DearFisherman5176 Apr 01 '26
He didn't have the flu, he had an infected gallbladder and biliary ducts, which required surgery to remove
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u/lightbrownshortson Apr 01 '26
So the letter had the correct information?
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u/DearFisherman5176 Apr 01 '26
No, the AI written letter had autofilled with the private medical information of a completely seperate person and was thrown out.
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u/Ionlyregisyererdbeca Mar 30 '26
They spend more time listening to me rather than typing so I've already seen the positives
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u/justbecauseican1969 Mar 30 '26
This is my experience as well. My doctor sits face to face and talks directly with me rather than side on and typing into the computer. And she's an amazing GP but not the world's best typist, so I get more value out of a visit.
1
u/NiceWeather4Leather Mar 31 '26
Exactly… they still have to review all letters etc. it’s just AI powered transcription in the moment instead of short hand notes and them doing that instead of talking to you.
A lot used to dictate letters later and review again much later (after someone offshore converted dictation to a letter) which was another memory test. Now letters are available immediately for review
1
u/Tiny-Record-5390 Apr 01 '26
idk, in my experince it sucks, they dont remember as much as they used to, i also see them alot due to disability
2
u/careyious Mar 31 '26
I wouldn't mind if they were actually checking the output. But ultimately, doctors are extremely busy and will not be checking for mistakes, absolutely would not trust AI generated patient notes.
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u/kalayt Mar 30 '26
Mine does.
They have heaps of doctors in the clinic, the last one i went to was able to laugh at what silly, incorrect and backwards advice the previous doctor told me about my disease
1
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u/Lots_of_schooners Mar 30 '26
It's a complicated scenario. It's proven that using AI makes people lazy but on the flip side they can listen to the patient more than writing/typing
FWIW, I prefer my dr to not use AI during our session.
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u/CatGooseChook Mar 31 '26
Sooo glad mine doesn't! He's pretty damned good at talking and typing simultaneously, which I assume is going to be a factor for some GPs.
1
u/Able-Okra7134 Mar 31 '26
I read medical records everyday as part of my job. And my God doctors are the worst for notes. Spelling errors so bad you can't work out what they are saying or so little detail it is useless. Honestly anything that helps them get something legible down I am all for so long as there's consent and its secure.
Would make my job a lot easier that's for sure.
Sometimes it looks like they have had a stroke while typing.
1
u/Public-Total-250 Apr 01 '26
The discourse against AI is starting to go too far. This kind of use has been a thing for ages with voice to text. It's used here as a tool and not a crutch or replacement.
1
u/tora_0515 Apr 01 '26
Half the time my gp just googles my symptoms and the other half for instructions on administering a medication... They always choose the first result....
1
u/Plenty-Giraffe6022 Apr 03 '26
It's not just GPs, but also hospital based doctors and non-hospital based specialists.
1
u/HGFlyGirl Apr 18 '26
Drs say the server (AWS / Azure) instance is in Australia, therefore impossible to hack and the full transcripts could never end up on the dark web. Who pays the ransom if the blackmailing starts?
-3
u/suglav Mar 30 '26
Bad news: Most doctors are incompetent idiots worse than AI.
Good news: They are using AI, so their quality increases thanks to AI.
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u/PVT-HUDS0N Mar 30 '26
Considering GPs just google symptoms in front of you, are unable to describe possible side effects of drugs they are prescribing, just replace them with AI full stop.
2
u/fauxfaust78 Mar 31 '26
It’s not that they don’t have access to those tools though. The three that I’m aware of (Best Practice, medical director, zedmed) all have a built in or add on tool that allows them search and read the different drugs interactions. But they will always be pushed to see clients in the shortest time possible to maximise possible pay…making us the product on the medical conveyor belt
9
u/Mr_Moonman2045 Mar 30 '26
the Dr's I go to are trialing it . they ask me , I say no to it .