Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) During Consultations

At Crocus Medical Practice, we are committed to providing high-quality, safe, and efficient patient care. To support this, clinicians may use an NHS-approved digital tool called Accurx Scribe during consultations.

This policy explains how the technology works, how your information is protected, and your choices regarding its use.

If you would prefer Accurx Scribe not to be used during your appointment, please inform your clinician at the start of your consultation. Your care will not be affected in any way.

What is Accurx Scribe?

Accurx Scribe is a secure digital documentation tool that uses Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) to assist clinicians with clinical note taking.

During a consultation, the system converts spoken conversation into a written draft summary. The clinician then reviews, edits, and approves the information before it is added to the patient's medical record.

The purpose of Accurx Scribe is to reduce administrative burden, allowing clinicians to focus more on listening to patients and less on typing notes during appointments.

For further information, please visit the official Accurx website:

https://www.accurx.com/scribe

How Does Accurx Scribe Work?

During your consultation:

1. The system listens to the conversation and converts speech into text in real time.
2. A draft consultation summary is generated.
3. The clinician reviews, edits, and approves the summary before it is saved.
4. Clinical measurements such as blood pressure, weight, height, temperature, or peak flow may be recorded as SNOMED-coded entries in your medical record where appropriate.
5. The clinician maintains full responsibility and control over all information added to your patient record.

Accurx Scribe is a documentation support tool only. It does not make clinical decisions, provide diagnoses, or determine treatment plans.

Does Accurx Scribe Record or Store Audio?

No.

Accurx Scribe does not retain audio recordings of consultations. Speech is converted into text during the consultation and the audio is deleted immediately after processing.

This means that there is no stored audio recording of your appointment available for later access or playback.

For additional information, please refer to the Accurx Patient Frequently Asked Questions document.

How Is My Information Protected?

Accurx Scribe operates in accordance with NHS information governance requirements, UK GDPR, and relevant data protection legislation.

Secure Data Storage

Draft transcriptions and consultation summaries are stored temporarily in secure data centres located within the European Economic Area (EEA).

These draft records are retained for a maximum of 30 days before being automatically deleted.

Restricted Access

Access to consultation data is strictly controlled. Only authorised healthcare professionals involved in your care can access and review the information generated during your consultation.

No Sale or Secondary Use of Data

Patient information processed through Accurx Scribe:

• Is not sold to third parties.
• Is not used for advertising purposes.
• Is not used to train artificial intelligence models.
• Is used solely to support the delivery of your healthcare.

Benefits of Using Accurx Scribe

The use of AI-assisted note taking can provide several benefits for patients and clinicians, including:

• Allowing clinicians to focus more fully on the consultation and patient interaction.
• Improving the accuracy and completeness of clinical documentation.
• Reducing the risk of important information being overlooked.
• Supporting more efficient record keeping and continuity of care.
• Helping clinicians spend more time engaging with patients rather than entering notes manually.

Potential Risks and Safeguards

As with any speech-to-text technology, there is a possibility that the system may:

• Omit information from a consultation.
• Generate inaccurate or incorrect wording.

For this reason, every draft produced by Accurx Scribe is carefully reviewed by the clinician before any information is added to the patient's medical record.

The clinician remains fully responsible for ensuring that the final record is accurate and clinically appropriate.

Your Right to Opt Out

You have the right to decline the use of Accurx Scribe during your appointment.

If you do not wish the technology to be used, simply inform your clinician at the beginning of your consultation.

Your appointment and treatment will continue as normal, and your decision will not affect the care you receive.

Further Information

Accurx Scribe Patient Information

A detailed patient guide explaining privacy, security, and data handling is available from Accurx:

Accurx Scribe Patient Frequently Asked Questions

Official Accurx Scribe Information

https://www.accurx.com/scribe

Accurx Support Information

https://support.accurx.com/en/articles/11550248-accurx-scribe-an-overview