Patient Consent Best Practices for Clara AI
When using Clara AI to record and transcribe patient visits, clinics are responsible for obtaining appropriate patient consent prior to recording.
Consent requirements can vary by state and by clinic policy, so it is important to ensure your consent process aligns with applicable laws and regulations.
Clara AI does not automatically obtain consent on behalf of clinics.
When Is Consent Required?
Consent is required before recording a patient visit using Clara AI.
Recording may include:
Audio of the patient visit
Provider–patient conversation
Clinical discussions during the appointment
Because Clara relies on recorded audio to generate documentation, patient awareness and consent are essential.
Verbal vs. Written Consent
Many clinics choose one of the following approaches:
Verbal Consent
Provider verbally informs the patient that the visit will be recorded for documentation purposes
Patient verbally agrees before recording begins
Example language:
“I use a secure recording tool to help with my clinical notes. Is it okay if I record our visit today?”
Written Consent
Consent included in intake forms or clinic policies
Patient signs or acknowledges consent in advance
Some clinics use both written and verbal consent for added clarity.
Best Practices for Clinics
To ensure compliance and transparency, we recommend clinics:
Inform patients clearly that recording is being used for documentation
Explain that recordings are used to assist with clinical notes
Obtain consent before starting the recording
Allow patients to decline recording without penalty
Document consent according to clinic policy
Clinics should consult their legal counsel or compliance advisor to confirm consent requirements for their jurisdiction.
Patient Declines Recording
If a patient does not consent:
Do not record the visit
Providers can continue documenting manually in QuickerNotes
Clara AI use is optional on a per-visit basis
Clara AI is designed to support, not replace, existing documentation workflows.
Responsibility Disclaimer
QuickerNotes provides Clara AI as a documentation tool.
Each clinic is responsible for:
Determining consent requirements
Obtaining and documenting consent
Ensuring compliance with local and state regulations