Supporting Patient Presence in Community-Based Care

In community health settings, care is built on trust, presence, and relationship. For organisations serving Indigenous communities, that connection is especially important. Time, attention, and respect are not just clinical values, they are foundational to care itself.

Anishnawbe Mushkiki is an Aboriginal Health Access Centre in Thunder Bay that supports Indigenous people to live holistic, healthy, and harmonious lives through community-based healthcare services. Their work spans primary care, mental health, diabetes prevention, and community-based wellness programs, delivered by a diverse, multidisciplinary team.

But like many care organisations, they were feeling the weight of documentation.

When documentation pulls clinicians away from care

Before adopting an AI scribe, clinicians were struggling to keep up with charting demands. Notes were left unfinished, pushed into evenings, or completed long after patient encounters had ended.

As Alicia Costanzo, Data Management & IT Coordinator, described it:

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Clinicians found themselves handwriting notes to type later, or bringing laptops into the exam room and typing during visits. While necessary, it made staying fully present with patients difficult.

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Introducing AI without losing the human connection

The idea of using AI in patient care naturally raised questions. Would it feel intrusive? Would it change the tone of the visit?

Instead, the opposite happened.

As clinicians began using an AI scribe, many experienced an immediate shift. With less pressure to type during appointments, they were able to focus more fully on listening, observing, and connecting.

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Patients noticed the difference too. Engagement improved simply because attention was no longer divided between the screen and the person in front of them.

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Relief across the care team

As use of the AI scribe became routine, clinicians across teams reported a shared sense of relief. Documentation felt more manageable. Encounters were easier to close. The mental load between visits eased.

This impact was especially meaningful for teams working in mental health, where presence and attentiveness are critical.

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Even clinicians who were initially hesitant quickly adapted once they experienced how seamlessly it fit into their workflow.

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Technology that supports, not replaces, care

For Anishnawbe Mushkiki, the value of an AI scribe was not about automation for its own sake. It was about removing barriers that stood between clinicians and patients.

By easing the administrative burden of documentation, the care team was able to protect what mattered most: meaningful, respectful, and engaged patient interactions.

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Keeping care human

Anishnawbe Mushkiki’s experience shows that when introduced thoughtfully, AI can support community-based care without compromising values. By helping clinicians stay present and reducing burnout, technology can strengthen trust rather than erode it.

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Canada health infoway metrics:

For organisations exploring how to balance modern tools with deeply human care, their story offers a reassuring starting point.

Early evaluation interviews from the national program show:

The experience at Anishnawbe Mushkiki aligns with these findings. Documentation support is not just about time savings, it’s about protecting attention.