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.
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An Interview with Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey, QA Prep
Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey is a psychologist, nail design enthusiast, and multi-passionate entrepreneur. Through her business QA Prep, she empowers therapists with trainings and consultation on clinical documentation. Maelisa focuses on the “why” behind the usual recommendations and encourages clinicians to think outside the box, while also keeping their ethics intact. As someone with ADHD who’s had to figure out what works through trial and error, Maelisa aims to make sure her trainings are practical, while also allowing for plenty of laughter and fun.
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
Who we are:
Curt Widhalm, LMFT
www.curtwidhalm.com
Katie Vernoy, LMFT
www.katievernoy.com
A Quick Note:
Our opinions are our own. We are only speaking for ourselves - except when we speak for each other, or over each other. We’re working on it.
Our guests are also only speaking for themselves and have their own opinions. We aren’t trying to take their voice, and no one speaks for us either. Mostly because they don’t want to, but hey.