Is AI Really Ready for Therapists? An interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey of QA Prep about her assessment of the AI tools available for therapists. We chat about the high expectations many clinicians have for note writing tools (and whether these expectations are really reasonable right now). We also look at what therapists are getting wrong when starting to use these tools, exploring some concerns related to HIPAA compliance and who is actually putting together these tech tools.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about the development of AI tools for therapists

Curt and Katie asked Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey to come on and talk about what she thinks about AI for documentation.

What are therapists getting wrong about AI?

·      Therapists believe that AI can do their notes, but it is often a lot of work and/or is an expensive application is required

·      There is a choice when using a free platform and/or an untrusted platform is that you are either writing an insufficient note or adding PHI, which causes you to break HIPAA

·      AI for notes takes a very long time due to how slowly they process the information as well as your need to review and edit each note

·       Some platforms are claiming to be HIPAA compliant and are not

What are the different ways that AI works to provide documentation?

·      AI listens to the session and/or you upload the recording or a transcript

·      You enter the information on what happened in the session and AI writes the formal notes

What do therapists need to know about an AI platform before using it?

·      Checking for actual HIPAA compliance versus a false statement about HIPAA compliance

·      Understand how it is telling you to use the software

·      Do they give you a BAA?

·      The pricing is relatively similar to an EHR - $10-$40 per month

·      This is not an electronic health record or practice management system

·      Some of the AI applications do not have access to the diagnosis, assessment, treatment plans, so you will have to insure that you prove medical necessity and demonstrate the clinical loop

Are these AI platforms really ready for therapists?

·      The tech experts are taking care of data security

·      Many companies are still figuring these things out

·      All of the platforms Maelisa tested created fake elements of sessions (i.e., put things in the notes that did not happen)

What else can therapists use AI for?

·      Creating templates for progress notes (i.e., not for a specific client, no PHI)

·      Creating resources for clients

What do therapists need to do for their clients if they are using AI?

·      You must inform your client that you are using AI (informed consent)

·      AI is experimental, so it must be optional for your clients to opt in

·      You must insure that the platform is actually secure and HIPAA compliant

·      Ethics codes aren’t really saying anything, but some statements could be coming out soon on the ethics of how to use AI with or for clients

What do therapists need to know about AI?

·      It is very new and changing constantly

·      This is going to happen, so we need to understand and participate in this transition

·      New resources will be created through AI

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/