As physicians adopt AI scribes to help with documentation, patients are experiencing more eye contact, attentive listening, and space to share their stories.

Once consent is given for the AI scribe to be used, most patients don’t really notice it’s there. What they do notice is a change in how their provider is interacting, with appointments feeling less rushed, conversations flowing more naturally, and attention focused where it belongs—on patients.

For Wendy Kopciuch, a Patient Family Partner who recently visited her gastroenterologist, the change was immediate. After years of appointments marked by a physician’s attention divided between her and the computer screen, something felt different, even if she couldn’t quite name what it was.

“He looked me right in the eye for the first time since 2017,” Wendy said. “I really felt like he heard me, and he came up with a couple of referrals moving forward.”

Physicians feel more engaged

Physicians using AI scribes say those improvements that patients like Wendy are feeling can partly be tied to a shift in how they manage cognitive load. AI scribes help clinicians capture what was said during the visit, reducing the pressure to remember every detail to document later. With less multitasking happening in the background, physicians can stay grounded in the moment.

Family physician Dr. Craig Cantin said this has strengthened his connection with patients. Without needing to pause to jot notes or turn toward a keyboard, he finds it easier to ask follow-up questions and explore issues that might otherwise get squeezed out of a short appointment.

“The rapport with the patient is better because you aren’t looking at a keyboard and clacking away,” explained Dr. Cantin.

For Dr. Sean Groves, AI scribes are helping him return to the heart of his work: partnering with patients to create a care plan and path forward. He said that when the AI scribe captures the details of the visit, he can stay fully engaged in the conversation and focus on understanding the whole picture of a patient’s concerns.

“I just have a lot more opportunity to sit and hear patient stories, to work through their health issues and to understand all of the issues they’re presenting with, rather than limiting the discussion to my agenda,” shared Dr. Groves.

Other clinicians echo these experiences. Instead of replaying conversations in their minds as they transition to the next patient, they can move forward confidently knowing the details have been securely captured. Physicians say visit notes are often nearly complete by the time the patient walks out the door.

For patients like Wendy, the shift is unmistakable. The quiet arrival of AI scribes is helping to restore a foundational aspect of good care: the feeling of truly being seen and heard.

To learn more about the AI scribe review process and other related resources, please visit the SMA's website. Saskatchewan Health Authority's should review the AI Acceptable Use Policy before using AI resources.