Introduction

AI in mental health settings must be implemented with care to maintain patient trust, according to Jack Tabner, general manager for health at Accurx.

The Role of Mental Health Teams

While mental health teams are essential to community health, they often lag in adopting transformative technology. This delay results in:

• Increased administrative burdens
• Clinician burnout
• Less time for patient care

It is crucial to address these issues.

Potential of Ambient Voice Technology (AVT)

There is growing enthusiasm for ambient voice technology (AVT), which can:

• Reduce clinical administrative tasks
• Enhance safety and consistency in care

However, in mental health, careful consideration is necessary as introducing new tools can impact the patient-clinician relationship.

Insights from Accurx

At Accurx, the focus is on developing technology that genuinely assists. This involves:

• Engaging with patients and NHS mental health professionals
• Addressing the complexities associated with AVT

The report titled ‘Beyond the Hype: Navigating the Challenges of Ambient Scribe Technology in Mental Health’ explores critical challenges in safely using AVT.

Trust and the ‘Third Party’ Dilemma

The promise of a scribe is to allow clinicians to focus more on patients rather than paperwork. However, concerns arise when patients perceive the scribe as a non-human entity in the room, which can:

• Erode trust
• Compromise confidentiality

This is particularly concerning for vulnerable patients, such as those with trauma histories.

Recommendations for Safe Implementation

The report outlines several recommendations to ensure that AVT enhances the therapeutic relationship:

1. Human-in-the-loop philosophy: Clinicians should assess the appropriateness of using a scribe and be prepared to discontinue its use if a patient feels uncomfortable.
2. Privacy and control: Accurx Scribe prioritizes patient safety, ensuring that transcripts are not used for AI training and allowing clinicians to pause the scribe during sensitive discussions.
3. Authentic consent: Consent should go beyond mere formalities, recognizing the power dynamics in therapeutic relationships.

Limitations of AI Understanding

AI’s ability to comprehend nuances in mental health care is limited. For instance:

• AI may misinterpret sarcasm or significant pauses in conversation.
• Clinicians may experience ‘editing fatigue’ when correcting AI-generated notes that lack emotional depth.

To combat this, the report suggests:

1. Augment, don’t automate: AI should serve as a tool for drafting notes, with clinicians remaining responsible for accuracy.
2. Training on AI: Clinicians should learn to guide AI outputs effectively.
3. Minimizing editing fatigue: Features that allow for quick verbal instructions can help streamline the process.

Encouraging Dialogue

This report aims to foster open discussions about the implementation of AVT in mental health. It emphasizes the importance of:

• Listening to clinician concerns
• Understanding patient needs

Join mental health leaders on 24 September at 11 am to discuss the report’s findings and share experiences.