Artificial intelligence-powered therapists could soon be a reality, as new software providers are looking to use the booming technology to help mental health professionals lessen their tedious workload.
Sources indicate that with the rising number of people, particularly young people, experiencing mental health problems, AI tools for therapists are becoming more and more popular. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying epidemic of loneliness, it has been stated that therapists are overworked, and the mental health sector has seen a severe staffing shortage, further reducing access to treatment.
Therapists' daily tasks include more than merely leading sessions. They also schedule, organize, and track their patients' electronic health records (EHR). According to several therapists who spoke with other sources, maintaining EHRs is one of the most difficult aspects of their jobs.
Many AI solutions for therapists are designed to relieve overworked clinicians of administrative tasks, much like most AI applications for business and productivity. Several tools employ AI to evaluate patient data and assist therapists in identifying subtle differences in a patient's progress or mental health.
AI Software for Health Office Work
AI notetakers that comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) can be useful. One such application is Upheal, which can be used on a mobile device or therapist's browser to listen in on in-person or virtual sessions via Zoom or other platforms.
Providers can choose from templates for solitary or couple sessions, and Upheal will properly take session notes. After the provider reviews and approves the notes, they can be transferred to the therapist's EHR platform.
In addition to basic transcribing, Upheal's AI may recommend treatment strategies based on what it overhears and offers extra insights and data. The business guarantees on its website that it complies with HIPAA and GDPR, among other health data standards.
AI expedites the note-taking process, even though several digital EHR services, such as TherapyNotes, are available. Upheal allows therapists to focus solely on their clients without having to type and then review notes after a session. Additionally, it helps neurodivergent therapists, who may find paperwork particularly difficult.
AI Against Health Paperwork
Comparably, in Ontario, Canada, AI was evaluated in April as an automated transcriber and summarizer for patient visits as the country attempted to lessen the workload associated with doctors' paperwork.
The pilot program plans to implement artificial intelligence software Scribe to help condense patient contacts into electronic medical records with their consent.
According to sources, studies conducted in other countries show AI software can liberate up to 50% of a doctor's after-hours time that would otherwise be spent on paperwork, enabling them to see more patients.
The Ontario Medical Association's (OMA) president, Dr. Andrew Park, claimed that primary care doctors' "burden of unnecessary administration" takes up more than 19 hours of their workweek, preventing them from seeing more patients and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. According to the OMA, about four hours are reportedly spent gathering government medical forms and writing sick letters.
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