AI Note-Taking at Your UCSF Health Visits

Your UCSF Health provider may ask your permission to use an AI scribe to help take notes during your visit. Because the AI drafts the notes, your clinician can spend more time listening to and caring for you.

AI scribe is a digital tool that listens to and records your visit. It can only be used with your permission. It creates a draft of a medical note (that is, a short but complete summary) of your visit. Your clinician then reviews and edits the drafted note before adding it to your medical record.

Your Privacy and Choices Matter

• AI note-taking is safe and your privacy is always protected.
• We must get your permission to be recorded.
• You can say no to being recorded or ask to pause the recording at any time.
• Only your clinician can access the drafted note before it is edited.
• The recordings are permanently deleted within 30 days.

Medical AI Scribe FAQs

Why are medical notes important?

Medical notes help keep track of your health and guide your care. These notes, stored in your medical record, include things like your symptoms, medications and treatment plans. The notes help your care team make good decisions and share information when needed.

Traditionally, clinicians have made their own notes (typed, written or spoken and transcribed) or relied on notes taken for them by a human scribe. But recently, AI has been brought in to help.

How does the AI scribe help me?

The AI scribe helps your visit feel more personal.

Instead of typing notes while listening to you, your clinician can focus fully on you. With your permission, the AI quietly takes notes in the background. This allows your clinician to listen closely, answer your questions and focus on your health.

Is the AI scribe safe and private?

Yes. The AI scribe follows strict privacy and security laws, including HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

All recordings and notes are encrypted, kept private and used only for your medical care.

How does AI note-taking work?

It Records: With your permission, the AI records the conversation between you and your provider during each visit using a secure digital tool.

It Drafts: AI creates a concise summary of your visit. Instead of transcribing the recorded conversation with your provider word for word, it captures the most important parts and generates a draft note.

Your Clinician Reviews: Your provider carefully checks and edits the note to make sure it is accurate before it becomes part of your medical record.

Can I decline AI note-taking?

Yes. Your provider will ask for your permission before using it. If you prefer not to be recorded, just say so. You can also ask to pause the AI scribe at any point during your visit. Your care team wants you to feel comfortable and in control.

Who can see my medical notes?

Your medical notes—whether written by a clinician or created with help from an AI scribe tool—are protected by privacy laws. Only your care team and authorized UCSF staff can access them.

Can I request a copy of my recording?

The AI scribe recording is a temporary aid to help your clinician summarize and document your visit. Because it is not part of your final official medical record or the Designated Record Set, we are unable to provide patients with a copy of the recording.

Can I record the discussion with my clinician on my own device?

Private recordings are generally not permitted. California law protects staff and clinician privacy. Unlike AI scribe recordings, private recordings are not stored in a secure system to guarantee everyone's privacy or reviewed to ensure accuracy. Learn more about Patient Rights and Responsibilities.

Where are AI recordings stored?

UCSF Health uses trusted medical data storage systems that meet HIPAA standards. Strong security measures, such as data encryption, help keep your information safe.

The recordings are used only to write your medical notes—not for research or training.

How long are recordings kept?

AIl recordings are permanently deleted within 30 days.

What if something in my medical record is wrong?

After your visit, you will receive an After Visit Summary through MyChart or on paper. Your visit notes will also be available in MyChart.

Contact your care team if anything in your After Visit Summary or medical notes does not look right so it can be reviewed and changed if necessary.

How does UCSF make sure AI is used responsibly?

UCSF is committed to using AI safely and responsibly. We follow national Trustworthy AI guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to protect patient safety, privacy and quality of care.