Field notes from healthcare AI
In-depth articles on AI tools, HIPAA compliance, and how clinicians are actually using AI in practice.
Your AI Scribe Is Changing How You Bill. Your Payer’s Algorithm Already Noticed.
The 2026 research shows coding intensity rises after ambient AI adoption — and payers have started downcoding in response. What the Trilliant, BCBSA, and UCSF data actually says, why an AI scribe can move an E/M level at all, and the audit checklist every practice should be running.
Freed AI Review 2026: The Solo Clinician’s Scribe Grows Up
Freed repriced into three tiers, moved EHR push behind the top one, and launched an AI receptionist. An honest look at what $39 actually buys, where the Chrome-extension integration breaks, and the evidence Freed still does not have.
Most AI Scribe Rollouts Underperform. The 2026 Data Shows Exactly Why.
The largest studies to date find AI scribes save about 13 minutes of EHR time a day and do not move after-hours charting at all — while heavy users save nearly double. The difference is the rollout. Here is what the 2026 implementation evidence says about doing it right.
Nabla Review 2026: The Only AI Scribe That Won a Randomized Trial
Nabla beat Microsoft DAX on the primary endpoint of a randomized trial at UCLA Health published in NEJM AI — the strongest independent evidence any ambient scribe can point to. We break down what the trial actually proved, the four caveats the headline skips, why Nabla quietly abandoned self-serve pricing in 2026, the free tier that reportedly ships without a BAA, and who should still shortlist it.
Suki AI Review 2026: The Ambient Scribe That Wants to Be an Assistant
Suki bets that the note is the boring part — its real pitch is a hands-free voice assistant that documents, answers chart questions, and stages orders and codes inside the EHR. We dig into the KLAS-validated ROI numbers, the pricing Suki won't publish, the adoption catch on the voice layer, and exactly who should shortlist it in 2026.
FDA Just Moved the Line Between a Clinical Tool and a Regulated Device
In January 2026, the FDA rewrote its clinical decision support guidance and pushed more AI software outside its oversight. Single recommendations are now allowed, documentation tools got clearer footing, and generative AI got almost no framework at all. Here is what changed — and why 'no FDA clearance needed' tells you nothing about whether a tool works.
Your AI Scribe Is a Recording Device: Consent, Retention, and the Lawsuit Every Practice Should Read
A proposed class action against Sharp HealthCare alleges patients were recorded by an ambient AI scribe without consent — and the health system, not the vendor, is the defendant. Here is what recording-consent law actually requires, what your scribe really keeps after the note is written, and the consent workflow that protects your practice.
Abridge Review 2026: The Enterprise AI Scribe, Honestly Assessed
Abridge is the most talked-about ambient AI scribe in healthcare — a $5.3B, Best-in-KLAS platform deployed at Kaiser, Mayo, and Duke. But it is enterprise-only, expensive, and not for everyone. Here is an honest look at what Abridge does exceptionally well, who it is really built for, and the caveats the marketing leaves out.
AI Disclosure Laws Are Here: What the 2026 State Rules Mean for Your Practice
HIPAA is no longer the only rulebook for clinical AI. In 2025 and 2026, California, Texas, Utah, Illinois, and others passed laws governing whether you tell patients an AI was involved in their care — and they hit AI scribes and patient-messaging tools directly. Here is what is actually in effect.
AI for the Front Desk in 2026: Cutting No-Shows, Phone Volume, and Front-Office Burnout
No-shows cost US healthcare an estimated $150 billion a year, and front-desk staff spend 60-70% of their time on the phone. AI scheduling and intake tools promise to fix both. We break down what actually works, the real ROI data, and how to evaluate front-office AI for your practice.
AI Notes for Therapists in 2026: The Tools, the Privacy Rules, and the Psychotherapy Note Trap
Therapists spend 30-40% of their time on documentation, and AI can cut session notes to under five minutes. But mental health data carries privacy protections most clinicians don't fully understand — including the critical legal difference between psychotherapy notes and progress notes. Here's what therapists need to know.
AI for Dental Practices in 2026: What's FDA-Cleared, What's Hype, and What's Worth Buying
Dental AI splits into two worlds: FDA-cleared imaging tools that read radiographs, and everything else. Knowing the difference protects you legally and clinically. We break down the FDA-cleared platforms, what they actually detect, real pricing, and how to evaluate dental AI without falling for marketing.
Prior Authorization in 2026: How New CMS Rules and AI Are Changing the Worst Part of Practice
Physicians spend 13 hours a week on prior authorization, and PA delays have caused avoidable hospitalizations. In 2026, a major federal rule (CMS-0057-F) and a wave of AI tools are reshaping the process. Here's what actually changed, what's coming in 2027, and how AI prior auth tools fit in.
AI Medical Coding and Billing in 2026: Is Autonomous RCM Actually Worth It?
Up to 20% of medical claims are denied on first submission, and most are preventable. Autonomous AI coding promises to fix that — but the technology is enterprise-priced and uneven. We break down what AI billing actually does, the real ROI data, where it works, and whether it makes sense for your practice size.
Can You Trust AI Scribe Notes? What the Research Actually Says About Accuracy and Hallucinations
AI scribes save hours, but peer-reviewed studies report 1-3% hallucination rates — and in healthcare, even rare errors matter. We dug into the actual research on AI scribe accuracy, the real failure modes clinicians report, and a practical review workflow that catches errors before they reach the chart.
The Best Free and Low-Cost AI Medical Scribes for Solo Practitioners in 2026
Solo clinicians shouldn't pay enterprise pricing for AI documentation. We dug into every legitimate free and under-$80/month AI scribe option in 2026 — which ones are genuinely free, which ones are bait, and which ones actually fit a solo practice workflow.
Epic Launched Its Own AI Scribe. Should You Stop Using Your Standalone One?
In February 2026, Epic launched native AI Charting — bringing ambient AI documentation directly into the EHR used by 35% of US hospitalized patients. Athenahealth followed with athenaAmbient. Suddenly, clinicians have to choose between native EHR AI and the standalone scribe they're already paying for. Here's how to decide.
AI Medical Scribe Pricing in 2026: What Practices Actually Pay
A real breakdown of what AI medical scribes cost in 2026 — from free tiers to enterprise pricing. Includes per-tier comparisons, hidden costs, ROI math, and a practical framework for figuring out which tier your practice actually needs.
What Does HIPAA Compliance Actually Mean for AI Tools?
"HIPAA compliant" gets used loosely. Some vendors mean it; some are bluffing. Here's what HIPAA actually requires of AI tools, what a Business Associate Agreement does, and the questions every clinician should ask before letting any AI tool touch patient data.
Heidi Health vs Freed AI: An Honest Comparison for 2026
Two of the most-recommended AI medical scribes go head to head. We pulled current pricing, real clinician feedback, and tested both against the same workflow questions clinicians actually ask. Here's where each one wins, where each one loses, and how to decide.
Choosing an AI Medical Scribe: What Healthcare Practices Should Look For
A practical guide to evaluating AI medical scribes — focusing on HIPAA compliance, EHR integration, and the questions every clinician should ask before signing up.