AI that summarizes your doctor visit
Apps like Abridge that record (with permission) and explain what the doctor said in plain language. What they do, privacy, and how to try one.
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AI that summarizes your doctor visit
Apps like Abridge that record (with permission) and explain what the doctor said in plain language. What they do, privacy, and how to try one.
Why visit summaries help
It’s common to forget a lot of what the doctor said during an appointment. AI tools can record the conversation (with everyone’s permission), then create a plain-language summary and a list of next steps — so you and your family can review later.
What Abridge does (for patients)
- Records the visit — With permission from you and your doctor, the app records the conversation.
- Creates a summary — AI turns it into a short summary, often written at an easy-to-read level.
- Explains terms — Medical words are defined in context.
- Tracks medications — Dosages and instructions are pulled out so you can see what to take and when.
- Share with family — You can securely share the summary with a family member or caregiver.
Abridge is used by major health systems (e.g. Johns Hopkins, Kaiser Permanente, Duke Health, Mayo Clinic) and is built to protect your privacy (e.g. HIPAA-compliant).
For clinicians
Abridge also helps doctors by drafting clinical notes from the conversation. Clinicians can review and edit the note before it’s final. That can free up time and reduce documentation burden.
How to try it
- Abridge for Patients is available as a free app on the App Store and Google Play. You or your doctor’s office can look up “Abridge” to see if your health system supports it.
- Ask at your next visit whether your doctor uses Abridge or a similar tool. If they do, they’ll explain how to turn it on and what gets recorded.
Privacy and consent
- Recording should only happen when both you and the clinician agree.
- Summaries are stored securely and can be controlled by you (e.g. who you share with).
- If you’re unsure, ask your provider how the app handles your data and who can see the summary.