As EHR vendors roll out native AI scribes, the promise is compelling: documentation that lives directly inside your chart, no extra tools, no context switching.

For some organizations, that works well.

But for many clinicians — especially in small and midsized practices — native EHR integrations often trade quality for convenience. 

That tradeoff shows up quickly in day-to-day workflow, whether it’s:

• Note structure
• Time it takes to edit
• Patient context (or lack thereof)
• The amount of mental load

This guide breaks down the real differences between native EHR AI scribes and Freed, so you can choose the approach that fits how you actually practice.

At a glance: Freed vs. native EHR integrations

The pros and cons of EHR-native scribes

Where native scribes win 

Native EHR AI scribes are designed to work inside a specific EHR environment. That brings real advantages in certain settings:

• Deep alignment with a single charting system
• Structured data capture tied closely to billing workflows
• Familiar interfaces for IT-led organizations

For large, enterprise health systems standardized on one EHR, this can cut procurement complexity and centralize documentation decisions.

But that same tight coupling limits clinicians who need flexibility. 

Where native scribes stumble

Care doesn’t always fit neatly inside systems.

In practice, many clinicians find that EHR-native tools fit where documentation lives, but not how they deliver care.

This leads to software that technically works, with a lot of mental clean-up, whether it’s:

• Adjusting the note structure
• Fixing missed nuance or incorrect terms
• Filling gaps that AI should have handled in the first place

It all comes down to purpose. Native scribes were designed for your EHR. Freed was designed for you. 

Why Freed beats EHR-native scribes

Patient context and visit prep

You’re not thinking in fields. You’re thinking in patients, patterns, and context.

Native tools typically surface information only once you’re already inside the chart. 

Freed’s smart visit prep brings forward patient background, last visit summaries, and follow-up items before the visit starts. And after the visit, pull up the AI assistant at any time to ask questions, refresh clinical information, and pull details from prior encounters. 

Notes that adapt to you 

Fixed templates and field structures can work for standardized visits, but they lose track of nuance, medical terminology, and the details that matter. 

Freed’s models are trained specifically on clinical use, including over 27,000 medications and terms. Input your specialty to immediately fine-tune the note. 

We’ve also worked with practicing clinicians to design customizable templates. Modify and share a specialty template, or use a learned template to teach Freed your preferences and edit an example note.

💡 Learn more about how to get the exact note you want in Freed

Editing that’s fast and human

When you’re editing field by field, review takes just as long as writing the note yourself.  

With our AI clinician assistant, you can use an chat prompts to edit an entire note’s length, format, and phrasing. You can also add missed info or make template updates. 

Documentation doesn’t end with the note

After the visit, you still need to:

• Send patient instructions
• Generate referral or follow-up letters
• Produce work, school, or travel documentation

Native tools often stop at the chart. Freed generates patient instructions and clinical letters automatically, giving you clean, ready-to-share outputs without extra typing.

How Freed works with your EHR (without locking you in)

Freed is EHR-agnostic by design: 

• Works with any browser-based EHR
• Runs via a Chrome extension directly on top of your EHR tab
• Supports one-click push of notes and ICD-10 codes
• No IT setup or system changes required

You can stay in your existing workflow while getting your note where it needs to go.

💡 Learn how Freed works with your EHR. 

Proof that workflow flexibility matters

In a real-world case study, clinicians using Freed reduced average note closure time from ~21 days to 0–3 days, an 86% faster turnaround. Faster documentation meant quicker billing and less cognitive load at the end of the day.

💡  Learn more about a practice with 85+ clinicians ditched late-night charting for good. 

Where AI scribes are heading 

Freed has moved beyond standard AI scribe transcription toward full visit support:

• Before the visit: patient context and preparation
• During the visit: documentation, coding, and capture
• After the visit: charting, follow-ups, and communication

Native EHR tools will continue to evolve — but always within the constraints of a single system.

Freed is building around the entire clinical lifecycle, without tying you to one EHR ecosystem.

Try Freed in your real workflow

See how a purpose-built scribe fits right into your existing workflow. Try Freed for free.