Trust starts at the bedside. As AI becomes part of patient care, clinicians face a new challenge — using technology to strengthen connection, not replace it.

This FAQ covers everything you need to know about maintaining bedside manner with AI scribes, handling sensitive visits, disclosing AI use to patients, and building patient confidence in AI-assisted care.

What does “patient trust” mean in the age of AI?

Patient trust is the belief that a provider will act in the patient’s best interest, protect their data, and deliver accurate care. When AI is involved, trust also includes confidence that the technology is transparent, reliable, and secure.

How can AI improve the accuracy of clinical notes?

AI sifts through spoken conversation, extracts key findings, and formats them into SOAP notes in real time. This reduces transcription errors and ensures that every symptom, assessment, and plan is captured.

• Faster notes that help reduce the loss of critical information.
• Consistent formatting helps clinicians review and verify data quickly.

Learn more about AI‑powered clinical documentation in our guide on ambient scribe technology.

How can I maintain good bedside manner while using an AI scribe?

Maintain good bedside manner with an AI scribe by explicitly centering the patient first: sit facing them, keep consistent eye contact, and use open body language so the technology clearly fades into the background rather than becoming the focus of the visit. 

Start each encounter with a brief, confident explanation of the AI scribe in plain language, emphasizing privacy, security, and the fact that it exists to free you up to listen more closely, not to replace your judgment or relationship. 

During the visit, narrate what you are doing when you glance at a screen or device, pause documentation if the conversation becomes emotional or highly sensitive, and invite questions about the technology so patients feel informed, respected, and in control of their experience.​

How does AI increase transparency for patients? 

AI can make it clearer what was discussed, decided, and documented in a patient visit, often through accurate notes and after-visit summaries that reflect the conversation in plain language. 

When clinicians explain upfront that AI is being used to capture the encounter, how the data is protected, and how the output is reviewed, patients gain a more explicit view into both the documentation process and the rationale behind their care. 

The best AI scribe tools like Freed also support clearer traceability, including transcripts of the conversation.That helps clinicians and patients feel that their words are being represented faithfully rather than filtered through memory or rushed typing.

Can AI scribes capture conversations with multiple people in the room?

Yes. AI scribes are designed to transcribe multiple speakers, including situations where you're seeing a patient with family members present. It will turn this transcript into a cohesive note that reflects what was discussed, regardless of speaker.

This includes eliminating background noise and filler words to focus on the conversation, handling offline and low-connectivity environments, and supporting live recordings and file uploads.

Can AI scribes handle sensitive or emotionally difficult visits?

Yes. Many clinicians in behavioral health use AI scribing across all types of visits, including sensitive topics like mental health, addiction, trauma, or difficult diagnoses. The technology focuses on clinically relevant information based on the user's specialty and filters out what doesn't belong in documentation.

For particularly sensitive visits, remember that you maintain complete control over AI scribes like Freed. You can review, edit, or delete any part of the note before it's finalized. If certain details shouldn't be documented, you can remove them — or choose not to record the visit at all.

The goal is to give you flexibility while maintaining the confidentiality and respect your patients deserve.

Will AI scribing work for therapy and mental health visits?

Yes. AI scribes work across all specialties, including behavioral health, psychiatry, and therapy. The technology is designed to capture the unique documentation needs of mental health visits, including therapeutic conversations, mental status exams, and treatment planning.

Many mental health clinicians find that AI scribing is particularly valuable because it allows them to be fully present during emotionally sensitive conversations. Instead of taking notes while a patient shares difficult experiences, they can listen actively and maintain therapeutic presence.

Freed offers specialty-specific templates for mental health documentation that understand behavioral health terminology and frameworks.

What should clinicians look for when choosing an AI solution?

• Specialty‑tuned models – ensure the AI understands the language of your field.
• EHR integration – seamless flow into your existing workflow.
• Compliance – HIPAA‑ready and transparent data handling.
• Support – responsive technical and clinical assistance.

For a deeper dive into specialty‑specific AI tools, see our overview of AI medical scribe for clinicians.

How do I explain AI scribing to my patients?

You can explain AI scribing by being transparent about how the technology supports your work. Most patients appreciate when you frame it as a tool that helps you give them better care.

Here's what patients should know:

• AI is used only to assist with note-taking during the visit
• All data remains confidential and HIPAA-protected
• Every record is still reviewed and finalized by you, the clinician
• The technology allows you to maintain better eye contact and engagement during the visit
• Recordings are processed securely and deleted after note generation

Many clinicians find that when they explain AI scribing this way, patients appreciate the increased attention. 

Can patients tell that AI is being used during the visit?

This depends on your setup. If you're using a phone or tablet placed visibly on the desk, patients may notice the device. If you're using a more discreet setup, they may not realize AI is involved unless you mention it.

Regardless of whether patients notice, transparency is best practice. Letting patients know you're using AI for documentation—and explaining how it helps you be more present—builds trust and demonstrates that you have nothing to hide.

How do I handle patients who don't want AI used during their visit?

If a patient declines AI documentation, respect their preference. You can simply not record that visit and document it manually as you would have before using AI scribing.

Some clinicians keep a short explanation ready: "I completely understand. I'll take notes the traditional way today." Then move forward with the appointment normally.

In practice, patient objections are rare — especially once they see how the technology lets you give them your full attention. But when concerns do arise, honoring patient preferences builds trust and demonstrates that you prioritize their comfort.

How do I convince skeptical patients that AI won't compromise their care?

Focus on what matters to patients: your attention and the quality of their care. Explain that AI handles the administrative burden so you can be more present during their visit.

You can also emphasize that:

• You still make all medical decisions
• You review and approve every note before it's finalized
• The technology is HIPAA-compliant and secure
• Many healthcare organizations trust AI documentation

If patients remain skeptical, offer to not use it for their visit. Respecting their concerns often builds more trust than any explanation.

Do I need patient consent to use an AI scribe?

This depends on your jurisdiction and organizational policies. Clinicians should follow their organization’s policies and applicable laws. The clinician and practice remain responsible for following local consent requirements.

Common options clinics use for patient consent include:

• Verbal consent at the start of each visit (e.g., "I'm using a secure AI tool to help with note-taking today")
• Clinic signage (e.g., "This visit may be documented using ambient scribe technology")
• Patient consent forms during intake
• Notice in patient portal communications

While Freed doesn't require consent as a platform feature, we consider obtaining consent to be best practice and highly recommend it. Check with your compliance team to determine what's required in your area.

Does using AI make patient visits feel less personal?

No. In fact, many clinicians report the opposite. AI scribes can help make visits feel more personal because you're no longer divided between the patient and your computer.

Think about the difference: without AI, you're typing while the patient talks, breaking eye contact to make sure you capture everything correctly. With AI, you're listening, making eye contact, and having a real conversation. The technology captures the details in the background.

How does Freed protect patient privacy during visits?

Freed protects patient privacy through multiple layers of security and compliance:

• All data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2-1.3) and at rest (AES-256)
• Recordings are processed securely and automatically deleted after note generation
• No audio is stored long-term by default
• Patient notes can be manually deleted at any time or set to automatically delete after 30 days
• Protected Health Information is never used for AI training
• All systems are HIPAA-compliant, HITECH-aligned, and SOC 2 Type 2 certified

Learn more about our data security measures.

What happens to patient recordings in Freed after the visit?

Patient recordings are temporarily saved in a secure, HIPAA-compliant manner only until the note is generated and quality checks are complete. Once the note is successfully created — typically within 60 seconds — the audio recording is automatically deleted. In addition, patient notes can be manually deleted at any time or set to automatically delete after 30 days. 

How does Freed maintain the clinician's voice and style in notes?

Freed's AI learns your documentation style over time through a feature called “Learn Format.” As you edit notes and make preferences clear, Freed adapts to your language, tone, and clinical approach.

This means your notes continue to sound like you. They maintain the personality that's true to your "bedside manner." The AI doesn't impose a generic voice; it learns to match yours.

Many clinicians find that after a few weeks of use, their notes require minimal editing because the AI has learned their preferences and documentation style.

Does Freed work for both in-person and telehealth visits?

Yes. Freed works seamlessly for both in-person and virtual visits. The technology captures audio from any setting — your office, exam room, or telehealth platform.

For telehealth visits, simply have Freed running in the background during the video call. It captures the conversation just as it would for an in-person appointment.

What makes Freed different from other AI scribes when it comes to patient trust?

Freed was built by clinicians who understand that patient trust is nonnegotiable. Our approach prioritizes:

• Transparency: Clear documentation about how data is handled and protected
• Security: HIPAA-compliant, HITECH-aligned, and SOC 2 Type 2 certified with no long-term audio storage
• Clinician control: You maintain complete control over what's documented and how notes are finalized
• Personalization: AI that learns your voice and style, so notes sound like you
• Specialty awareness: Understanding of sensitive conversations across all specialties, including behavioral health

What if I have more questions about maintaining patient trust with Freed?

We're here to help. Our team includes practicing clinicians who understand the nuances of building and maintaining patient trust.

Contact us:

• Website: https://www.getfreed.ai/contact-us
• Email: sales@getfreed.ai
• Help Center: https://help.getfreed.ai/en/

For organizations considering Freed, we can arrange calls to discuss specific concerns about patient trust, provide sample patient disclosure scripts, and share insights from thousands of clinicians who successfully use AI scribing.

Ready to see how AI supports patient trust with Freed?

You shouldn't have to choose between documentation efficiency and patient connection. With Freed, you get both.

Join the thousands of clinicians who are strengthening patient relationships while simplifying their documentation workflow.

Start a free trial to experience how Freed supports patient trust in your practice.