AI Scribe FAQ: Top Clinician Questions Answered in 2025

Curious if AI scribes are HIPAA compliant, their cost, or telehealth compatibility? We answer clinicians’ top questions from Reddit, forums, and AI chats in 2025.

Introduction

AI medical scribes are transforming clinical documentation. With charting eating into evenings, costly human scribes, and underwhelming EHR tools, clinicians are seeking answers on platforms like Reddit, forums, and AI chats. This guide compiles the most pressing questions from these discussions, offering field-tested insights for healthcare professionals exploring AI scribes.

What Is an AI Medical Scribe?

An AI medical scribe uses natural language processing (NLP) to convert patient-physician conversations into structured clinical notes, like SOAP notes, in real time. By reducing documentation burdens, these tools let clinicians prioritize patient care over paperwork.

Top 10 FAQs About AI Scribes

We’ve scoured healthcare subreddits, professional forums, and AI platforms to address the questions clinicians are asking most.

1. Are AI Scribes Truly HIPAA Compliant?

HIPAA compliance is a top concern, and a vendor’s claim isn’t enough—verification is key.

Answer: Yes, if these three requirements are met:

• Business Associate Agreement (BAA): A legal contract defining HIPAA responsibilities, integrated into onboarding for instant countersigning.
• End-to-End Encryption: Data secured in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest (AES-256), with audio files purged post-note generation.
• Controlled Access: Role-based access controls (RBAC) and audit logs to restrict and track access to patient data.

For example, Kaiser Permanente’s AI scribe deployment saved thousands of documentation hours in its first year without a single HIPAA violation, proving robust security in mature platforms.

2. Do AI Scribes Work for Telehealth and In-Person Visits?

Answer: Yes, modern AI scribes support both. Operating via lightweight desktop or mobile apps, they capture audio from in-office visits, phone calls, or telehealth platforms like Zoom. Audio is processed locally in a secure environment, ensuring PHI doesn’t pass through video conferencing clouds.

A 2025 UCI Health analysis showed a 28% reduction in after-hours charting for virtual visits using ambient AI listening tools.

3. How Much Do AI Scribes Cost?

Answer: Costs vary by model, with self-hosted options carrying hidden maintenance and liability expenses. Commercial AI scribes typically use:

• Usage-Based Pricing: $0.05–$0.60 per minute, ideal for low-volume specialists.
• Seat-Based Pricing: $49–$149/month for unlimited notes, preferred by high-volume primary care, therapy, or specialty clinics.

For example, a therapist generating 120 notes monthly on a flat-fee model could pay less than $0.50 per note, avoiding surprise costs.

4. How Accurate Are AI Scribes—Do They Still “Hallucinate”?

Answer: Accuracy has improved significantly, driven by three layers:

1. Speech-to-Text (STT) Engine: Specialty-tuned models achieve up to 98% word accuracy in quiet settings.
2. Clinical Language Model: Maps dialogue to clinical note elements (e.g., Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) using medical corpora.
3. Post-Processing Rules: Applies templates, formatting, and cross-checks for ICD-10 codes or allergies.

A 2024 study found purpose-built medical LLMs reduced hallucinations by 43% compared to general models. Tools like S10.AI refine accuracy through continuous clinician feedback.

5. Do “Free” AI Scribes Risk Patient Privacy?

Answer: Yes, free tools often monetize de-identified patient data for model training, posing breach risks. Before using any AI scribe, ensure:

• A signed BAA is in place.
• Explicit opt-out from PHI use in model training.
• SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 certification.

Paid models like S10.AI rely on subscriptions, not data resale, with BAAs explicitly prohibiting secondary data use.

6. Are AI Scribes Worthwhile for Mental Health Providers?

Answer: Absolutely. Narrative-heavy psychotherapy sessions make documentation time-intensive, and AI scribes streamline this process with:

• Built-in Therapy Templates: Support for DAP, BIRP, and other formats.
• Progress Insights: Query patient history to track progress across sessions.
• Insurance-Ready Summaries: Auto-generate summaries with CPT and DSM-5 codes.

Clinicians report cutting note-writing time from over 9 minutes to under 2 minutes per session.

7. Will AI Scribes Replace Human Scribes or Clinicians?

Answer: No. AI scribes handle clerical tasks, not clinical judgment. Clinicians must still:

• Verify medical decision-making in notes.
• Sign final notes in the EHR.
• Build patient rapport.

The American Medical Association’s 2025 survey found 68% of physicians view AI as an adjunct tool, not a replacement, easing administrative burdens to focus on patients. 

8.How do AI Scribes Integrate with My Existing EHR?

Answer: Seamless integration with your Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is crucial for maximizing the efficiency of an AI scribe. Many AI scribes offer integration with popular EHRs like Epic, Cerner, and Athenahealth. However, the level of integration can vary. Some scribes offer a simple copy-paste function, while others provide more advanced, "plug-and-play" integration that allows for direct data entry into the EHR.

S10.ai's Universal EHR Compatibility: S10.ai is designed to be universally compatible with any EHR system. Our flexible integration options allow you to seamlessly transfer clinical notes into your existing workflow, whether it's through direct integration or a secure browser extension. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures a smooth, efficient documentation process.

9.How Do I Talk to My Patients About Using an AI Scribe?

Answer: Introducing any new technology into the patient encounter requires transparency and clear communication. Patients may have questions or concerns about privacy and the role of AI in their healthcare. It's best to be direct, simple, and focus on the benefits to their care.

A straightforward approach is often best. You could say something like: "I use an AI assistant to help me take notes during our conversation. This allows me to give you my full attention instead of typing, and it ensures I accurately capture all the important details for your medical record. Are you comfortable with that?" Emphasizing that the tool helps you focus more on them and improves the accuracy of their record can help alleviate concerns.

How S10.ai Supports Patient Communication: S10.ai is designed to be unobtrusive. We also provide our partners with clear, patient-facing materials that explain how the technology works and the robust security measures in place to protect their privacy, making these conversations easier.

10.Is an AI Scribe Suitable for My Specific Medical Specialty?

Answer: This is a frequent and important question, as the documentation needs of a family physician are very different from those of a surgeon or a psychiatrist. A "one-size-fits-all" AI scribe may not capture the specific nuances required for every field. For example, a family doctor may need detailed SOAP notes for multi-problem visits, while a surgeon requires precise pre-operative and post-operative documentation.

The best AI scribes are adaptable and may offer templates or specialized models for different areas of medicine. Look for a tool that can be customized to your workflow and documentation style.

How S10.ai Adapts to Your Specialty: S10.ai is built to be flexible for various specialties. Our platform allows for the creation of custom templates and macros, enabling clinicians to tailor the output to their specific needs, whether in family medicine, surgery, or another field. This ensures that the generated notes are not only accurate but also relevant to your practice.

Conclusion

AI scribes are revolutionizing clinical documentation, reducing burnout, enhancing note quality, and streamlining workflows. By automating tedious tasks, they empower clinicians to prioritize patient care.

Ready to save time? Try CRUSH by S10.AI for accurate, effortless SOAP note automation.