OntarioMD AI Scribe Launch

Dear SGFP Members,

OntarioMD Announces Ontario AI Scribe Program and Vendor of Record List - A Game-Changer for Family Physicians

OntarioMD has announced the Ontario AI Scribe Program, which includes the Vendor of Record list and free, expert support services from OntarioMD. This is a significant step forward for family physicians seeking to reduce administrative burden and reclaim time for patient care. The Vendor of Record process ensures medical-legal protection while also providing access to discounted pricing compared to market rates. Whether you sign up for one contract or one hundred, costs are locked in and may decrease - as more users enroll through the program. To sign up or learn more, please see this link.

You must use the Ontario AI Scribe Program’s Vendor of Record process to ensure you are protected from medical legal risks and the benefit of cost saving contracts negotiated for us. It is important to note that contracts already signed directly with the vendor or through your EMR do not give you these benefits.

For years, new computer technologies have often made physicians' lives more complex, adding to administrative burden rather than reducing it. AI tools, particularly AI scribes, may be the first technology that truly helps us enjoy our jobs more while enhancing patient care. The 2024 clinical evaluation demonstrated that AI scribes alleviate administrative workload, while OntarioMD partnered with the Ministry and Supply Ontario to ensure that legal, privacy, and cost concerns have been mitigated through the program’s Vendor of Record process.

Dr. Kevin Brophy, SGFP Digital Health Lead, has experienced the transformative impact of adopting an AI scribe in his Ottawa-area practice. Before implementing the tool, he was facing burnout, had lost joy in practice, and was considering reducing his patient load due to increasing administrative tasks. Exploring AI scribe options and finally integrating one into his workflow revitalized his practice, allowing him to focus on patients, clinical decision-making, and the aspects of medicine he truly loves, rather than documentation.

I have personally experienced remarkable success with AI scribes. Since integrating one into my practice, I have experienced greater efficiency, stronger continuity in patient notes, and reduced after-hours workload, all while improving my connections with patients. AI scribes have enabled self-care, expanded capacity for key administrative tasks like insurance letters and patient communication, and streamlined documentation, removing the pressure to manually transcribe everything.

With the Ontario AI Scribe Program, Ontario’s family physicians now have a streamlined path to adopting this technology without the extensive research, effort and risk that early adopters like Dr. Brophy and I undertook. This initiative provides trusted solutions at a better price, ensuring that more physicians can experience the benefits AI scribes bring to patient care and professional satisfaction.

If you’ve been considering an AI scribe, now is the time.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact support@ontariomd.com.

Warm Regards,
Dr. Dave Barber
Chair, SGFP

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