AI Scribe in Denturist Practice

Artificial Intelligence Scribe in Denturist Practice

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly common in healthcare. From digital imaging to administrative automation, these tools can streamline practice operations and enhance patient experience.

Under Alberta’s Health Information Act (HIA), custodians are accountable for ensuring that all health information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed appropriately, even when an external vendor or AI tool is involved. Members of the College of Alberta Denturists (College) are considered custodians under the HIA.

Why This Matters

Artificial Intelligence (AI) scribes are tools that record your conversations with patients and automatically create notes or summaries for their chart. For denturists, these tools may free up time to focus on the patient rather than the paperwork.

But here’s the catch: a denturist using AI scribe still remains a custodian under the HIA. That means all the obligations for accuracy, security, and proper use of health information are still that of the custodian.

What AI Scribes Do

• Record the entire consultation, not just what the denturist would have chosen to write down.
• Generate notes or summaries.
• Sometimes pre-populates forms by pulling information from the electronic record system.

While this sounds efficient, it introduces new risks, such as over-collection of information and vendor misuse of data.

Legal Duties Under HIA

The HIA isn’t consent-based. Instead, it uses a circle-of-care model. You may only collect, use, and disclose information for permitted purposes[1] and only what is essential.

As a denturist custodian, you must:

• Only capture what’s needed for treatment.
• Use technical, administrative, and physical safeguards[2].
• Review and correct AI-generated notes[3].
• Respect patient rights as patients have a right to access their notes or request corrections[4].

Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)

Before turning on an AI scribe, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) requires submission of a Privacy Impact Assessment[5] (PIA).

The PIA should explain:

• Why the scribe is being used, and which functions are enabled.
• What gets recorded, where it’s stored, and who has access.
• How the custodian will avoid over-collection, e.g., reminding patients not to mention unrelated family info.
• Explanation of any accuracy controls such as proofreading transcripts before filing.
• When recordings will be deleted.
• How the custodian and the vendor will notify patients and OIPC if data is compromised.
• How patients can request access or corrections.

Bottom Line

AI scribes can free up time to focus on patients, but a denturist custodian, must stay in control of the data.

• Review contracts carefully.
• Complete and submit a PIA.
• Proofread and safeguard patient records.
• Be transparent with patients.

By taking these steps, a denturist custodian can use AI scribes responsibly, enhancing practice while protecting patient trust.

For more information on using AI in the oral healthcare setting, check out these guidelines on the College’s website.

Reference

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (2025, September). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scribe Privacy Impact Assessment Guidance. https://oipc.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI-Scribe-PIA-Guidance-Sept-2025.pdf

[1] s. 58 HIA

[2] s. 60 HIA

[3] s. 61 HIA

[4] ss. 7, 13 HIA

[5] s. 64 HIA