8 tools picked for gps, specialists and medical practices

Best AI tools for GPs and medical practices in Australia

For Australian GPs and specialists, the most visible AI change has been the AI scribe: software that listens to a consultation and drafts the clinical note, referral or care plan for the doctor to check. Practices also use AI for patient communications, policy documents, recall letters and the endless administration behind accreditation and billing.

Healthcare carries stricter obligations than most industries. Health information is sensitive information under the Privacy Act, recording a consultation needs consent, and practitioners remain accountable for every note in the record. The picks below focus on tools designed for clinical use or deployable under business-grade data controls, with general assistants kept to non-identifiable work.

Last reviewed October 2026

The shortlist

Heidi Health
Free plan + paid
Healthcare
Heidi is an Australian-founded AI scribe that drafts consultation notes, letters and patient summaries from the conversation. It is designed for clinicians, so check how it connects with your clinical software, where data is stored and how your practice records patient consent.
Heidi Health review →
Lyrebird Health
Free plan + paid
Healthcare
Lyrebird Health is another Australian AI scribe built for GPs and specialists, producing notes and letters for review. Practices comparing scribes should trial both on real consult types, involve their medical defence organisation, and check accuracy on medication names and dosages.
Lyrebird Health review →
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Paid
General Assistant
For practice managers on Microsoft 365, Copilot drafts policies, staff rosters, accreditation documentation and email replies within the practice's own tenant. It is suited to administrative work rather than clinical decisions, and keeps documents under existing access controls.
Microsoft 365 Copilot review →
Claude (Anthropic)
Free plan + paid
General Assistant
Helps with non-identifiable tasks such as drafting patient information sheets in plain English, simplifying clinic policies, or summarising long guidelines. Do not paste identifiable patient information into a general assistant unless your practice has approved the plan, contract and data settings.
Claude review →
Consensus
Free plan + paid
Science
Consensus searches peer-reviewed research and summarises what studies found, with links to the papers. Clinicians can use it to get a quick view of the evidence on a question, then read the primary sources before changing practice.
Consensus review →
Elicit
Free plan + paid
Research
Elicit extracts findings, populations and outcomes from research papers into tables. It suits specialists, registrars and practices preparing education sessions or quality improvement projects who need a structured overview of literature quickly.
Elicit review →
Retell AI
Paid
Voice/Audio
Retell AI can build a phone agent that handles appointment bookings, repeat script requests routing and opening hours after the front desk closes. Any setup must send clinical or urgent calls to a person and tell callers they are speaking with an AI.
Retell AI review →
Canva AI (Magic Studio)
Free plan + paid
Design
Canva helps practices produce waiting-room posters, recall reminders, vaccination campaign graphics and social posts with AI writing and design help. Keep health advertising within AHPRA's advertising guidelines, which restrict testimonials and misleading claims.
Canva AI review →

Compliance and privacy

AHPRA's guidance on meeting professional obligations when using AI in healthcare says practitioners stay accountable for AI output, should understand a tool's intended use and limits, must be transparent with patients and should obtain informed consent when AI processes their information, particularly when recording consultations. The RACGP's AI scribe guidance asks GPs to obtain patient consent, check state and territory surveillance device laws, consult their indemnity insurer and confirm the record is accurate. Health information is sensitive information under the Privacy Act 1988, with stricter rules on collection and disclosure. Software that diagnoses or recommends treatment may be a medical device regulated by the TGA. AHPRA's advertising guidelines apply to AI-generated marketing.

Getting started

1
Read the AHPRA AI guidance and RACGP AI scribe resources, then speak with your medical defence organisation about cover for AI tools.
2
Trial one AI scribe with two or three doctors, checking accuracy, integration with your clinical software and where data is stored.
3
Write a consent script and patient notice explaining the scribe, and record consent in the patient file.
4
Use general AI assistants only for non-identifiable admin work such as policies, staff documents and patient information sheets.
5
Review every AI-drafted note before it is saved to the record, and audit a sample regularly for errors.

Looking beyond off-the-shelf tools? See AI automation for gps, specialists and medical practices.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need patient consent to use an AI scribe?

Yes. AHPRA expects informed consent when AI tools process patient information, especially when a consultation is recorded, and the RACGP advises obtaining consent before each use. Some states make recording a private conversation without consent a criminal offence. Many medical defence organisations recommend documenting consent in the record.

Who is responsible if an AI scribe makes a mistake in the notes?

The treating practitioner. AHPRA's guidance is clear that clinicians must apply human judgement to AI output and remain responsible for the accuracy of the clinical record. Read every draft note, correct errors, and pay particular attention to medications, dosages, allergies and negated findings.

Are Australian AI scribes safer than overseas ones?

Not automatically. Local vendors may offer Australian data hosting and familiarity with local clinical software and terminology, which helps. Still check the privacy policy, where recordings and transcripts are stored, how long they are kept, and whether data is used to train models.

Can AI help with Medicare billing and item numbers?

Some practice software and scribes suggest item numbers based on the consultation, but the practitioner remains responsible for correct billing under Medicare rules. Treat any suggestion as a prompt to check, not an answer, and keep documentation that supports the item claimed.

Is it safe to use ChatGPT in a medical practice?

For non-identifiable admin tasks, such as drafting policies or patient handouts, a business plan with training disabled is reasonable. Entering identifiable health information into a consumer AI tool risks breaching the Privacy Act. Clinical questions should be checked against guidelines and primary evidence.

AI tools for other industries

AI set up properly for gps, specialists and medical practices

AI Lab Australia connects these tools to your practice software and documents, with the privacy and professional obligations covered before anything goes live.

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