image: JMIR Publications invites submissions to a new theme issue titled “Ambient AI Scribes and AI-Driven Documentation Technologies” in its open access journal JMIR Medical Informatics
Credit: JMIR Publications. Source: Toowongsa Anurak
(Toronto, July 9, 2025) JMIR Publications invites submissions to a new theme issue titled “Ambient AI Scribes and AI-Driven Documentation Technologies” in its open access journal JMIR Medical Informatics. The premier, peer-reviewed journal is indexed in MEDLINE, PubMed, PubMed Central, DOAJ, Scopus, and the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE).
Recent developments in generative artificial intelligence (AI) offer a promising pathway for reducing long-standing administrative burdens for physicians and clinicians. Specifically, there is a rapidly evolving field of ambient AI scribe technologies that health care organizations and clinicians are adopting and that industry partners are keen to support. Professional societies and physician-run organizations are also engaging in the overall discourse, development, and use of such technologies. Promised improvements include a reduction in documentation time, restoration of valuable patient-clinician interaction benefits, efficiency and productivity enhancements, and overall improvement in the quality of patient care and satisfaction.
Although early studies have demonstrated promise in reducing the administrative burden, there are likely unintended consequences of such rapid adoption with limited scientific evaluation. Some physician professional societies advise caution on the use of ambient scribes in general practice, warning about the potential for privacy risks associated with the technology. Data and algorithmic biases, cognitive biases, and linguistic biases have unclear consequences for patient care quality, population health management, and overall patient and clinician experiences in health care settings. The impacts of the rapid adoption of ambient AI scribes on the training of health care professionals in health care settings where trainees are also a part of the work and learning environment are also unclear. Patient or caregiver involvement and experiences when receiving synchronous (ie, visits) or asynchronous (ie, via patient portals) care involving AI scribes also remains unexplored.
In this Call for Papers, JMIR Medical Informatics is interested in original research and evidence-based viewpoints, tutorials, and other article types that explore the rapidly growing field of ambient AI scribes and other forms of AI-driven documentation, such as voice technologies or ambient dictation and ambient listening tools, in clinical settings. Perspectives on these technologies in practice from clinicians, patients, and health care leaders are welcome. We are particularly interested in submissions that explore the practical applications, evaluations, challenges, and future directions of AI-driven or AI-facilitated clinical documentation in real-world clinical workflows.
Submissions to this Call for Papers may explore, but are not limited to, the following topics:
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Development or evaluation of novel architectures and algorithms for AI-driven documentation, for example, across different roles, specialties, or practice settings
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Integration of AI scribes with health information systems, including electronic health records or patient portals
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Impact on clinician task load, efficiency, burnout, and well-being
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Data privacy, security, and confidentiality in AI-driven documentation
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Potential for bias propagation, detection, and mitigation due to AI-driven documentation
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Strategies for successful integration and deployment in various clinical settings
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Cost-effectiveness evaluations of AI scribes, for example, in facilitating health care services coding and billing
Read the full call for papers on the journal website.
About JMIR Publications
JMIR Publications is a leading open access publisher of digital health research and a champion of open science. With a focus on author advocacy and research amplification, JMIR Publications partners with researchers to advance their careers and maximize the impact of their work. As a technology organization with publishing at its core, we provide innovative tools and resources that go beyond traditional publishing, supporting researchers at every step of the dissemination process. Our portfolio features a range of peer-reviewed journals, including the renowned Journal of Medical Internet Research.