In 1990 the heavy metal band Queensryche asked its listeners, “Is there anybody listening?”, a lament for not being heard in a world of overstimulation, noise and artificially.

In healthcare in 2025, the answer is yes: someone is listening. But the listener just might be a machine.

Ambient AI is one of the most promising applications of the recent AI wave, in my opinion anyway and possibly that of my guest, Dr. David Canes. Dr. Canes is a Boston-area urologist, owner of WellPrept, and a self-described tech enthusiast.

Recently David put out the YouTube video 11 Ways to Use AI In Your Practice Right Now, which I link to in the show notes. But he’s also the author of “Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the risks you must know.” I’d describe him as an early adopter and enthusiast but with his eyes open to potential shortcomings.

We cover the pros and cons of ambient AI and other forms of AI, and how it is impacting documentation, coding, and the revenue cycle, on this episode of Off the Record. We discuss:

• David’s path into medicine and ultimately urology

• Why he chose to adopt a positive mindset in the use of new technologies rather than fear or resistance

• Ambient AI: How it operates and what a patient encounter looks like using this tech, start to finish

• Positive impacts on provider burnout, charting, E/M professional billing, and CPT

• Cons of the new tech, including hallucinated answers and inaccurate summaries

• Use of generative AI large language models in patient diagnosis

Show notes

• Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know: https://kevinmd.com/2025/02/why-ai-scribes-are-changing-medicine-and-the-hidden-risks-you-must-know.html
• 11 Ways to Use AI in Your Practice Right Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJLqIU2nbzc