Speakers: Leanne Loranger and Sean FitzGerald

In this episode, Sean and Leanne dive into how artificial intelligence is popping up in physiotherapy—from chatbots for booking and billing tasks and scribe tools for clinical documentation to robotics - and the regulatory considerations to keep in mind. With the explosion of AI tools, physiotherapists may look at options that help them in their work. Before implementing an AI tool there are a few things to know about doing so in a way that's consistent with the Standards of Practice and regulatory requirements.

We unpack the privacy laws you need to know (think the Personal Information Protection Act, Health Information Act and Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act), the current status of proposed AI regulation, and why it's crucial to keep up with changing legislation. Sean reminds us: even if your workplace picks the AI tool, you're responsible for your compliance with the standards and relevant legislation, which means that you need to do your due diligence to be sure you are using an AI tool appropriately.

Transparency is key — clients should always know if AI is involved in their care, and that they can say "no thanks" at any time.

Watch out for bias in the AI tools you use, keep your clinical skills sharp, and don't let reliance on AI tools lead to a loss of skills. We discuss cybersecurity and even the environmental impact of AI data centers.

Bottom line? Stay informed about new developments in AI and always put your clients first. Remember, AI is meant to support your expertise, not replace it.

Resources:

• Artificial Intelligence Guide for Alberta Physiotherapists

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