How can medical practice teams use AI safely?

Who this is for

Practice managers, receptionists and administration staff in general practices, specialist rooms, allied health and dental practices. It covers admin work, not clinical care.

Where AI can help at the front desk

• Helpful. Drafting a general notice about holiday opening hours
• Helpful. Turning a practice policy into a clear staff checklist
• Helpful. Improving the wording of a general website page
• Never. A patient's name, results, appointment reason or Medicare number in an unapproved tool
• Never. Pasting a referral or letter that identifies a patient into a public chatbot

Patient information is sensitive information

Health information is sensitive information under the Privacy Act. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner recommends that organisations do not enter personal information, and particularly sensitive information, into publicly available AI tools. Your practice decides which tools are approved. The training helps every staff member apply that decision.

Common practice tasks and AI