Listening, not typing: AI scribes helping GPs

How artificial intelligence scribes are changing the way GPs work.

Dr Keith McArthur has been a GP for decades. He’s seen many changes in the profession—but few have had as immediate an impact on his day-to-day work as the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) scribes.

“I’m nearly 70 and I can use a few fingers, but I’m not a good typist,” he says.

For years, Keith relied on dictation software to record patient notes. But as systems changed and upgrades failed to deliver improvements, he found himself spending more time correcting errors than saving time. “The older version could contextualise and reorganise sentences. The newer one just wrote what it thought it heard, it couldn’t make sense of it.”

That changed when he began using an AI scribe—a tool that listens to consultations and transcribes them into structured clinical notes.

“It saves me an enormous amount of time after the consultation,” he says. “I’m actually able to engage with the patient a lot better because I’m not busy trying to type or make brief notes.”

Dr McArthur says the shift has changed the dynamic of his consultations. “Patients like me being able to make eye contact with them for the sensitive duration of the consultation,” he says. “It took a little while to learn to talk through the examinations, because it doesn’t see what I’m doing, but you get used to that quickly.”

He’s also found that reviewing the notes with patients adds a layer of collaboration. “Some patients aren’t the least bit interested, so I check it myself. But I’m quite keen for patients to see how well it transcribes. The AI scribe often picks up nuances I might not have remembered to write down if I was just typing.”

At the end of a long consultation, he says, it’s easy to forget details. “I used to rely on dot points or memory. Now, the scribe captures it all—and I can focus on the patient.”

Keith has been using the scribe for several months and says patient acceptance has been overwhelmingly positive. He’s found that a simple explanation goes a long way. “Some people are already IT savvy and say, ‘Oh cool, yep, that’s fine’ as soon as I mention it. Others need a bit more information, but once they understand it’s just helping me take notes, they’re happy.”

Keith also provides patients with a brochure explaining how the scribe works and what it means for their privacy and care, and information is available in reception before patients come into the appointment. “By letting them see what it writes, it’s been good and even entertaining. They often say, ‘Yes, we did talk about that,’ and it helps confirm the record.”

Keith also works as a General Practice Liaison Officer, helping connect GPs and hospitals to improve communication and patient care. That focus on better communication and integration mirrors Keith’s enthusiasm for tools like AI scribes, technology that frees him to spend more time with patients while maintaining accurate records.

The growing use of AI scribes in general practice has prompted responses from key regulatory bodies. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) acknowledges the potential of AI scribes to reduce administrative burden and improve patient engagement. However, it also urges caution.

In its guidance, the RACGP emphasises that GPs remain fully responsible for the accuracy of patient records, even if those records are generated by AI. Explicit patient consent is required, and practices are encouraged to establish clear policies around AI scribe use.

The RACGP has published a fact sheet to help GPs understand the potential benefits and risks of AI scribes. It defines an AI scribe as “a tool that can automate parts of the clinical documentation process for a medical practitioner” and notes that while these tools can reduce administrative burden, they must be used with care. The RACGP warns that AI scribes can produce errors and inconsistencies, and that their output must be carefully reviewed for false positives and negatives.

The College recommends that practices seek independent legal advice or consult with their medical defence organisation before implementing AI scribes, particularly regarding privacy, data storage and contractual obligations.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has also published guidance on the use of AI in healthcare. Ahpra supports the safe use of AI, recognising its potential to improve health outcomes and create a more person-centred health system. However, it makes clear that individual health practitioners remain ultimately responsible for any and all AI used in their practice.

Ahpra’s guidance outlines key obligations: practitioners must apply human oversight and judgment, check the accuracy of AI-generated records, understand the tool’s intended use and limitations, and ensure transparency with patients—including obtaining informed consent.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) has echoed these principles in its clinical use guide. It recommends that clinicians critically assess AI tools before use, understand their evidence base, and remain vigilant about risks such as bias and automation error. Transparency and patient engagement are central to safe implementation.

Keith says these safeguards are essential. “Security was a big thing for me,” he says. “Once I knew the system met all the data and privacy requirements, I was happy. All those other questions evaporated.”

Some critics worry that AI tools could lead to deskilling among GPs. Dr McArthur disagrees. “I actually think probably the opposite,” he says. “When you read the notes, if there’s something you didn’t ask that you should have, it’s obvious.”

Keith emphasises that the scribe doesn’t make clinical decisions. “It doesn’t suggest diagnoses or treatments. It just reorganises the conversation.” He adds: “It’s giving me extra time. I can’t see any reason why anybody would not try it.”

As AI continues to evolve, its role in general practice will likely grow. But as the RACGP, Ahpra and ACSQHC all emphasise, its use must be grounded in professional accountability, patient consent, and a commitment to safe, ethical care.

For Keith, the benefits are clear: improved documentation, better patient engagement, and more time to focus on what matters most. “It integrates really well into my style of general practice,” he says. “And it’s made a real difference.”

Want to know more? See the AI scribe fact sheet.

This story features in Issue 21 of our Primary Health Matters magazine. Click here to read the rest of the issue.