AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Responsibilities

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of everyday healthcare practice across Australia. AI tools are already being used to support clinical documentation, administrative tasks, clinical decision-making, medical imaging and patient monitoring.

Used appropriately, AI may help to reduce administrative burden, improve workflows and support the delivery of more accessible and coordinated care. However, these opportunities need to be balanced with appropriate clinical oversight, patient transparency, privacy and strong governance.

What does this mean for providers?

For primary care services and allied health providers, AI presents opportunities to:

Reduce time spent preparing clinical notes, referrals and correspondence
Streamline administrative tasks and practice workflows
Assist with the interpretation of clinical information and medical images
Support patient monitoring and the ongoing management of chronic conditions
Improve access to care, particularly where services are limited

The potential benefits will depend on the tool, its intended purpose and how it is introduced into the clinical workflow. Before adopting an AI tool, providers should be clear about the problem it is intended to solve and consider the available evidence supporting its safety, accuracy and effectiveness.

Using AI safely and responsibly

AI-generated information can be inaccurate, incomplete or biased. Healthcare professionals remain responsible for the care they provide, including any clinical decisions, findings or records informed by AI. AI-generated outputs should always be critically reviewed for accuracy and relevance before they are incorporated into a patient’s care or health record. AI should support, rather than replace, professional judgement.

Providers and practices should also consider:

How patient information is collected, processed, stored and shared
Whether the tool is suitable for its intended purpose and patient population
How staff will be trained to use it safely
How errors, incidents and changes in performance will be identified and managed

Practical guidance for clinicians

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed an AI Clinical Use Guide to support clinicians and their patients to use AI safely and responsibly.

The guide is structured around three stages: before you use, while you use and after you use an AI tool. It provides practical guidance on assessing evidence, understanding risks and limitations, patient transparency and consent, privacy, reviewing AI-generated outputs and monitoring performance over time.

GPs, allied health providers and practice teams who are already using or considering introducing AI are encouraged to review the AI Clinical Use Guide and consider how the guidance can be incorporated into their local policies, governance arrangements and everyday workflows.

Further resources and references

For further information or support, please contact the Adelaide PHN Digital Health Team on digitalhealth@adelaidephn.com.au

13 August 2026