Frome Medical Practice has recently introduced an AI assisted technology to help clinicians document patient consultations more efficiently.
Ambient Voice Technology is a digital tool that transcribes spoken dialogue into written clinical notes, helping to reduce the time spent on manual documentation and allowing clinicians to focus more fully on patient care.
“The introduction of AVT is aimed at improving the quality and accuracy of clinical records, reducing administrative burden on clinicians and helping practices respond to growing demand for appointments,” explained Practice Manager Karen Creffield. “By freeing up time previously spent on note taking, AVT supports better access to care and enhances the overall patient experience.”
The technology has only been in use at the practice for a few weeks. “It’s introduction reflects a broader NHS strategy to improve access to care and manage increasing demand on primary care services. Patients have reported feeling more listened to, with clinicians maintaining better eye contact and explaining treatment plans more clearly,” said Karen.
Resident Concerns
However, one resident has raised concern about the use of technology and said, “To me, this sounds hideous, and I have seen mine and a family member’s notes reflecting its use which completely strips the GP of all personality. Tell-tale signs of its use are being referred to as ‘patient’ and the over-use of hyphens and semi-colons.
“AI is a very controversial topic so to introduce it into what always has been and what should always remain a private conversation is very concerning.”
Clinicians at Frome Medical Practice are recommended to inform patients about the use of AVT prior to their consultation.
Karen said, “While explicit consent is not required, due to the complexities of consent in clinical settings, patients are always free to opt out. In clinical settings, consent for the use of technology is often implied as part of the delivery of direct care.
“Patients attending a consultation reasonably expect their information to be recorded and used to support their treatment. AVT is used solely to assist with documentation and does not change the nature of the care provided.
“Requiring explicit consent for every tool or system used during a consultation would be impractical and may disrupt the flow of care. It can also lead to confusion or inconsistency, particularly when technologies are embedded into routine clinical workflows. Instead, the emphasis is placed on transparency, patient choice and the responsible use of tools that support safe and effective care.
“Information about AVT is displayed frequently on digital screens throughout the practice and our privacy policy has been updated on our website to reflect its use.
“If a patient later learns that AVT was used and has concerns, they are encouraged to contact the practice so that the matter can be reviewed and addressed appropriately. We are committed to ensuring patients feel informed and respected in all aspects of their care.”
Data protection
The resident also raised concerns around data protection and said they were worried about how private medical information is recorded.
They said, “A worry also here is how this recorded private medical information is being used to train AI, if it can be accessed by the government or any biases AI might have. If it can hallucinate – as I have recently found with an elderly relative, random information was included which was not said during the consultation.”
However, Frome Medical Practice says it takes patient privacy and data protection ‘extremely seriously.’
“AVT does not record or store audio. Instead, it generates a written transcript of the consultation, which is securely processed within the UK,” said Karen. “These transcripts are stored for a maximum of 90 days and are accessible only to authorised staff within the practice. No external parties have access to this data.
“The use of AVT and other digital tools in the day-to-day care of patients is subject to strict legal and regulatory requirements.
“Frome Medical Practice remains committed to transparency, patient choice and the responsible use of technology in healthcare. Any patient with questions or concerns about AVT is encouraged to contact the practice directly.”
Pictured: Frome Medical Practice
