Latest news with #HeidiAI
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
AI ‘scribes' in use at Manitoba doctors' offices
Manitoba doctors have started using artificial intelligence-powered note-takers to tune in to appointments and transcribe in real time. 'It allows me to be more present with the patient and get more of the patient's issues dealt with in a smaller amount of time,' said Dr. Nichelle Desilets, a family physician in Neepawa. An 'AI scribe' made both a noticeable dent in her workload and streamlined her workflow on Friday. The president of Doctors Manitoba said the new technology allowed her to start more appointments on time and treat several walk-ins because she didn't need to do extensive documentation after every visit. Canada Health Infoway has recruited 400 local primary-care providers to pilot its AI Scribe Program, an initiative involving 10,000 physicians and nurses across the country. The mandate of the federal government-funded organization is to integrate new technologies into hospitals and other health-care settings to improve productivity and patient outcomes. Desilets is among those who've signed up for a one-year licence for Empathia AI — marketed as 'a mindful charting assistant — via Infoway. She has also experimented with Heidi AI and another similar tool that is built into her clinic's electronic medical record system. Infoway launched a new initiative last month after a review of AI tools to ensure it was only endorsing programs that are aligned with Manitoba's Personal Health Information Act and counterpart legislation from coast to coast. Spokesman Abhi Kalra said the goal is to use 'ambient technology' to reduce administrative burden in a field where there is a lot of tedious manual labour. 'There is a tremendous amount of productivity to be tapped, safely using AI tools, but it has to be done in a thoughtful manner,' the executive vice-president of connected care said. AI scribes are creating high-quality, structured summaries of patient visits, he said, noting they are not yet being used to assist with diagnosis or treatment decisions, although that is likely on the horizon. Doctors Manitoba's 2025 workforce survey found only six per cent of members were actively using an AI scribe as of February. Seven in 10 of all 1,324 respondents indicated they had tried it at least once or were interested in trying it. (The response rate for the latest annual membership poll was 39 per cent, which translates into a margin of error of plus or minus two per cent.) The professional advocacy organization has since created a guide to learn more about the ethical use of AI tools and hosted a webinar that attracted more than 350 attendees in late June. Earlier this summer, upon arriving at his dermatologist's office, bioethicist Arthur Schafer was asked if he consented to the use of an AI scribe during his appointment. Patients have the right to opt out, but the founding director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba said he gave it. Family physician Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba, in her Neepawa clinic. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun files) 'A lot of people will initially feel some unease… because there is a certain amount of technophobia, a certain amount of anxiety about artificial intelligence, generally,' Schafer said. He recalled there was also initial skepticism when doctors transitioned from pen-and-paper to digital record-keeping. That pivot has ultimately proven beneficial for patients and health-care professionals alike, Schafer said, noting that poor penmanship caused serious accuracy and communication problems. Infoway's stakeholder consultations found that early adopters of AI scribes were often unsure about how their data was being used or where it was stored. Kalra said the absence of formal guidance for the sector and related privacy concerns prompted his team to do a deep dive. Infoway has purchased 10,000 one-year licences from nine 'pre-qualified vendors' that are headquartered in Canada. They were evaluated on their respective cybersecurity practices and how they support secure data-sharing, among other things. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. Schafer said he's optimistic that there is a pilot to assess the benefits and drawbacks of AI tools, and that it's being run by a not-for-profit. While noting 'the stakes are high' when it comes to protecting confidential health information, he said AI tools have immense potential. The bioethicist added: 'If we can have the right kinds of safeguards and controls then, potentially, family doctors — of which we have a great shortage in Canada — will be able to see many more patients.' Doctors Manitoba members who were using AI scribes this winter reported the technology helped them save four to six hours of note-taking per week. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. 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Cision Canada
09-07-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Clinicians Reclaim Over 500 Hours Weekly with Heidi Health's AI-Powered Clinical Scribe
Users also report lower stress and significant increase in presence with patients CAMBRIDGE, ON, July 9, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Cambridge North Dumfries Ontario Health Team (CND OHT) is proud to share early success from its adoption of Heidi, a powerful ambient AI medical scribe that transcribes patient visits and generates detailed care notes. "Using Heidi has elevated my practice as a family physician. Not having to focus on notetaking, I can engage more with my patients – listen to their concerns, ask thoughtful questions, and develop more personalized and effective care plans," said Dr. Cameila Singh, Primary Care Lead, Cambridge North Dumfries Ontario Health Team. The Heidi AI medical scribe technology currently supports over 2,900 patient consultations weekly across the Cambridge North Dumfries region. It generates documentation for new patient visits, follow-ups, referral letters and procedural notes. Since introducing Heidi in early 2025, CND OHT's evaluation shows clinicians using the Heidi scribe have already saved more than 530 hours per week in documentation time. The evaluation results also show: 100% of clinicians report increased presence with patients 90% report lower levels of stress and burnout An average of 11 minutes saved per patient consult 80% of notes require minimal edits 70% cite greater accuracy and clarity in clinical records The evaluation was conducted over a three-month period in early 2025 with 169 clinicians working across multiple specialties. Results demonstrate how seamless integration of ambient AI technology into clinical workflows has measurable and immediate benefits by strengthening overall documentation quality and care continuity, while improving patient and clinician experience. "CND OHT is showing what's possible when you place clinicians at the heart of innovation," said Dr. Thomas Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Heidi Health. "Their leadership is helping set a national precedent for how AI can support and enhance human care." Adoption of AI scribe technology is part of CND OHT's ongoing commitment to innovation to improve provider and patient experience and wellbeing. "I just find I have so much more to give at the end of the day," said Dr. Adam Wilson, family physician, Dunbar Family Practice, Cambridge, ON. The Cambridge North Dumfries Ontario Health Team (CND OHT) is a collaborative of 40+ health and social service provider agencies from Cambridge, North Dumfries and the Waterloo Region. The CND OHT envisions a community where people access seamless and integrated services to ensure the health and wellbeing of our diverse populations. The Ontario government introduced Ontario Health Teams to support a connected health care system centred around patients, families and caregivers. Ontario Health Teams will strengthen local services, making it easier for patients to navigate the system and transition between providers. For more information about the CND OHT, please visit Heidi Health is a leading ambient AI scribe, enabling clinicians to capture and generate medical documentation automatically in real time. Used in over 1.5 million patient consults per month across Canada, Heidi helps healthcare teams reduce burnout, increase accuracy, and focus on what matters most—patients. Heidi meets Canadian privacy and security requirements, including PIPEDA and PHIPA in Ontario. Heidi data is also stored in Canada.
