Medical scribing takes up headspace — whether you're doing it yourself or working with a human scribe.

Enter AI scribes. These tech-powered sidekicks are easing the weight of documentation, capturing the details of patient encounters and entering them into electronic health records (EHRs), without additional scheduling and costs.

Still, not every clinic is the same, and not every solution fits. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or somewhere in between, here’s a breakdown of how AI medical scribing stacks up against traditional methods.

AI scribes vs. traditional medical scribes: Comparison summary

What are AI scribes?

An AI scribe is a software assistant that listens to the patient‑provider dialogue, extracts key data, and drafts a note within seconds. Freed’s AI scribe is trained on medical language and integrates directly with most EHRs.

AI scribes are like invisible teammates — virtual assistants powered by artificial intelligence and natural language processing. They produce ambient clinical documentation that is created automatically during a patient visit.

An AI scribe can transcribe patient encounters in real time, and slot that data right into your EHR.

Designed to mirror the role of medical scribes, they add powerful extras like voice recognition, auto-formatting, and intelligent data entry.

“This is a total game changer. I have spent 12 years trying to streamline my process to document more efficiently and still have the majority of documentation left at the end of the day. Trialed Freed and I woke up the next day feeling like there is hope for the future for the first time in years.” – Dr. Cassie Whittier, Family Medicine Physician

What are traditional medical scribes?

Medical scribes (sometimes just called "scribes" or "human scribes" are trained humans who shadow healthcare providers — in-person or virtually — capturing the story of each patient encounter. They'll either write these notes by hand or plug them directly into your electronic health record.

They organize info and update the medical record so the provider can stay focused in the session.

AI scribes vs. traditional medical scribes: What makes them different?

1. What's the cost comparison between AI scribes and human scribes?

A traditional medical scribe earns around $17.46 per hour. That adds up—roughly $2,800/month or $33,000/year—plus costs for training, turnover, and admin time.

AI scribe pricing, by contrast, is  subscription-based, usually between $99 to $299 per provider monthly, or $1,080 to $3,500 annually. That’s a big difference. While setup costs exist, they’re typically offset in just a few months.

For clinics juggling budgets and scaling fast, AI scribes are often the more cost-friendly pick.

2. Are AI scribes easier or harder to use than human scribes?

Onboarding a human scribe takes time: training, preferences, scheduling. It works, but it’s rarely seamless.

AI scribes, on the other hand, are ready out of the box. They fit into your EHR like they’ve always been there, with voice recognition that just gets you. Some setup is still needed — especially for complex medical terminologies — but the ramp-up is short and smooth.

3. Can you scale an AI scribe?

Growing your team of human scribes means more hiring, training, and managing—not exactly plug-and-play.

AI scribes scale like software should. Add a provider? Just upgrade your subscription. No paperwork, no turnover, no bottlenecks.

4. Are AI scribes HIPAA compliant?

When it comes to healthcare regulations like HIPAA, there’s zero room for human error.

Traditional scribes need careful vetting, constant monitoring, and trust.

AI scribes come built for security. Think encryption, audit trails, role-based access—all engineered for peace of mind. Freed, for example, is certified for SOC 2, HITECH, and fully HIPAA-compliant.

Pros and cons of traditional medical scribes

Traditional medical scribes have a lot to offer. Let's look at the full picture from both sides.

Have a look below for some pros and cons of traditional medical scribing.

Pros of human scribes

1. Human understanding: Traditional scribes can interpret non-verbal cues, physician preferences, and patient context in a way that AI might miss. They adapt fluidly during complex conversations or nuanced patient encounters, which is a key aspect of patient care.
2. Human accountability: When medical information is taken down by a scribe, they have the responsibility and accountability for its accuracy. This can provide a sense of reassurance for physicians who may worry about errors in automated systems.
3. Established workflow integration: Many physicians are already familiar with working alongside human scribes, and the workflow may feel more natural for those who prefer interpersonal collaboration.

Cons of human scribes

1. Higher costs: Employing a human scribe is significantly more expensive than using AI, especially when factoring in wages, training, and turnover.
2. Scalability challenges: As practices grow, adding more human scribes becomes logistically and financially burdensome.
3. Availability issues: Human scribes may be unavailable due to illness, vacations, or staffing shortages, potentially disrupting documentation workflows.
4. Inconsistent performance: Not all scribes have the same experience or skill level, which can lead to variability in documentation quality.

Pros and cons of AI scribes

In comparison, let's also look at what using AI scribes entails.

Pros of AI medical scribes

1. Cost-effective: AI scribes offer a much lower monthly and annual cost compared to hiring a human, making them appealing for both small practices and large systems.
2. Consistent output: AI tools provide uniform quality and never tire or vary in performance, ensuring reliable documentation.
3. Scalable: AI scribes can scale with minimal friction and zero recruitment overhead.
4. Always available: No sick days or scheduling conflicts. The AI scribe is ready to assist 24/7.
5. Compliance-focused: Many AI solutions are built to meet HIPAA standards and include audit trails, role-based access, and secure encryption.

Cons of AI medical scribes

1. Lacks human intuition: AI may miss contextual subtleties or tone, especially in emotionally sensitive encounters.
2. Learning curve and setup: While generally user-friendly, some providers may face a short adjustment period during implementation.
3. Tech limitations: Though advanced, voice recognition and EHR integration may still have occasional hiccups, especially in noisy environments or with uncommon medical terminology.
4. Privacy concerns: Despite HIPAA compliance, some clinicians may feel uneasy about sensitive patient information being processed through AI systems.

AI works best as a clinician's partner, not replacement. And as ambient listening technology evolves, we're seeing how much it can learn and grow with our practices.

How one clinic closed notes 75% faster after switching from human scribes to AI

One multi-specialty Midwest health system piloted Freed with 20 clinicians over three months, ultimately expanding access to 85 providers after seeing remarkable results. The trial required zero training or onboarding—clinicians simply started using the product and integrated it into their workflows.

Survey results showed 100% of users reported improved work-life balance, over 80% felt happier throughout their workday, and over 80% saw improvements in patient care, with clinicians noting they could maintain better eye contact and engagement with patients. 

“I feel less stress and pressure put on myself to record the history and physical exam during the patient encounter. I feel that not only makes me a better provider to the patients, but also to staff that I interact with on a regular basis.” – a clinician within the practice 

Time savings were substantial: 85% of providers saved more than 5 hours per week on documentation, with 40% saving over 10 hours weekly. Additionally, the average time to close and sign notes dropped from 21 days to just 3 days—a 75% reduction. The success was attributed to Freed's ease of use, accuracy in capturing billable data, customizable templates, and cost-effectiveness at a fraction of competitors' prices. 

Ethical and compliance considerations

Both options must protect patient data. Human scribes require strict hiring and training protocols. AI scribes need transparent algorithms and regular bias audits. Freed’s solution is HIPAA‑compliant and offers role‑based access controls.

Research has shown that AI scribes are built for security and do not differ significantly from human scribes when it comes to security and compliance. For example, a scoping review by the NIH on AI in clinical documentation emphasizes that deploying NLP, speech recognition, and machine‑learning tools requires strict access controls and security safeguards to avoid undermining patient trust, but it does not report higher breach rates from AI scribes per se compared with traditional workflows.

Next steps based on which you choose for your practice

What's next, then? Which do you pick?

Here's how you can decide:

If you're looking for the personal touch and don’t mind managing a bit more behind the scenes, medical scribes might be your best fit — especially in nuanced patient encounters.

Want to reduce costs, lighten your admin load, and scale with ease? AI scribes have your back.

Or, do both. A hybrid model lets you use AI for routine notes and lean on human scribes when care gets complex.

Freed gives you instant, accurate medical scribing — with zero onboarding hassles, full HIPAA compliance, and support that fits right into your workflow. Sign up for free.