Digital Jersey has supported the roll out of an AI health tool in a Jersey-based GP practice that aims to make consultations more efficient and give patients an enhanced experience.
‘Heidi Health’ is an ‘AI scribe’, designed to transcribe consultations between doctors and their patients and enable GPs to stay engaged in conversations without the distraction of taking manual notes. Used in more than 50 countries, Heidi Health is now set to be used by the Health Plus practice in Jersey. It is the first time an AI scribe tool has been rolled out in a GP practice in Jersey.
Heidi Health is able to recognise relevant medical information and turn it into clear, structured, accurate medical notes. It can be tailored to a GP’s requirements, with an ability to add specific context, switching between concise or detailed notes as needed, to ensure only pertinent information is captured. It is also able to undertake tasks, such as drafting referral letters and letters to patients based on a consultation.
Critically, its use also complies with the highest standards of data governance, security and confidentiality. The requirements of Jersey’s data protection legislation have been built in from the outset, with patients being asked to consent before use and with all transcribed data being stored securely within the EU, without capturing unnecessary personal details.
Digital Jersey has been an active supporter in the roll-out of Heidi Health at the Health Plus practice, with its implementation aligning well with the aims of the original Digital Strategy for Health and Care in Jersey and current Government focus on Digital Health. That strategy sets out the broad approach to ‘digitising’ the whole health and care system in the island, so that technology can deliver benefits to patients, service-users and care professionals.
Commenting on the local implementation of Heidi Health, Dr Ed Klaber (pictured) of Health Plus, said: “We’re really pleased to be introducing Heidi Health to our practice. Our expectation is that the use of this AI tool will allow our GPs to be more present during appointments, improve communication with patients, and enhance the overall patient experience. By automatically transcribing and formatting notes, it will also save our GPs a considerable amount of time. We’ve seen how Heidi Health has been used successfully in other places, including Australia and the UK, and we’re excited to now bring it to Jersey. This project demonstrates that the highest standards of governance do not need to be compromised in the delivery of new technologies.”
Tony Moretta, CEO, Digital Jersey, added: “We fundamentally believe that technological innovation can benefit our community – and the implementation of AI scribes in a healthcare setting aligns perfectly with this mission, whilst also reflecting the wider island ambitions for digital health. We’re pleased to have supported the roll-out of Heidi Health locally – it represents an innovative step forward for healthcare on the island, promising meaningful improvements in patient care. The adoption of AI scribe technology at Health Plus can serve as a valuable case study, paving the way for similar technological advancements in our health sector.”
