How Do I Find the Right AI Scribe for Me and My Team?
If you’ve started exploring AI scribes, you already know the market is crowded. Every company claims to save you time, boost productivity, and make documentation effortless. For psychiatrists, the question isn’t “Should I use an AI scribe?” — it’s “Which one actually works for me and my team?”
The truth is, there isn’t a universal answer. The “right” scribe depends on your workflow, your practice size, and even your comfort level with technology.
Start With Your Workflow
Before comparing vendors, get clear on how you and your team actually work. Do you want the scribe to live inside your EHR so everything stays in one place? Or are you comfortable with a standalone tool that generates notes you can paste into your chart? Some psychiatrists prefer Chrome extensions that float over their workflow, while others want deeper integration. Knowing this upfront will cut your options in half.
Understand the Options
Broadly speaking, AI scribes fall into a few categories:
EHR-integrated scribes – built directly into your system (e.g., Epic, eClinicalWorks). Convenient but limited to one EHR.
Chrome extension scribes – sit on top of your workflow, recording audio and summarizing. Flexible but may add extra steps.
Standalone scribes – independent apps that generate notes you copy into your EHR. Often cheaper, but less seamless.
Hybrid models – connect to your EHR via API or webhooks, offering some integration without being fully tied to it.
Each option comes with trade-offs — convenience, flexibility, cost, or control.
What Really Matters
When you demo a scribe, focus less on the sales pitch and more on how it performs in your real-world setting. Does it capture psychiatric language accurately? Can you customize the note style to fit how you chart? Is it simple enough that you and your staff won’t resist using it after the novelty wears off?
Pilot Before You Decide
The best way to know if a scribe works for you is to try it. Most vendors offer free trials, so take advantage. Don’t just test it yourself — have a few team members use it too. Pay attention to whether it actually saves time, or if it just creates new steps in your process.
Think Beyond the First Month
It’s easy to get distracted by price or flashy features, but ask yourself: will this still work if my practice grows? Am I locking myself into one system that limits my flexibility later? Is the company stable enough to be around for years?
TL;DR: A Quick Checklist to Find Your AI Scribe
✅ Define your workflow — EHR-based, extension, or standalone
✅ Know the main scribe types (EHR, extension, standalone, hybrid)
✅ Test accuracy on psychiatric language and note style
✅ Pilot with your team, not just yourself
✅ Think long-term — scalability, vendor stability, and cost
Final Thought
The best AI scribe is the one that fades into the background — the one that quietly frees up your time so you can focus on patients, not paperwork. Start with clarity on your needs, try a few tools, and let your daily workflow be the judge.
Take the Next Step: Let’s Talk
Transform your practice and maximize your practice’s potential with coaching services designed to streamline operations, boost revenue, and build a high performing team.
Our Business Coaching services are designed to help practice owners regain control by getting laser focused on the priorities that generate revenue and profits.
Schedule a free 20-minute call to see how MindPractice can help grow your practice. No obligations and no commitments.
