Client Summaries are AI-generated overviews of appointments specifically for clients, that highlight key insights and next steps from a session. You can review, edit, and share them with clients as a summary of what was discussed.
Note: This feature is included in the Care Aide add-on. Care Aide is currently rolling out as a free, extended trial for select Note Taker users. This feature set will be made available to everyone later this year as a paid add-on with a 30-day free trial. For more information about Care Aide, see Introducing Care Aide.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Viewing Client Summaries
- Editing and saving a Client Summary
- Sharing a Client Summary
- Updating and resharing a Client Summary
- FAQs
Important: If your state requires specific consent for AI use in client care, you can customize the Consent for Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools in Therapy Service form. For more information, see Gathering consent from your clients.
Viewing Client Summaries
At least one source of session content must be available to generate a Client Summary. This can include:
- Note Taker enabled during a telehealth appointment
- Dictation recorded after an appointment
- Uploaded file added to the Note Taker section
Important: Unsaved Client Summaries are deleted after 7 days, or once a progress note is signed and locked. We recommend editing and saving Client Summaries before completing your progress note.
When session content is available, a Client Summary will auto-generate. To view it:
- Navigate to the client’s profile
- Select the appointment
- Click the Overview tab
- Click to expand the Client summary section
Note: During the initial rollout, you may see a Draft summary button. Select Draft summary to generate the Client Summary.
Editing and saving a Client Summary
AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies, missing details, incorrect statements, accidental bias, or irrelevant information. Before saving or sharing a Client Summary, review the content carefully and make any necessary edits.
To edit and save the summary:
- Click directly into the Client summary text field
- Make your edits
- After reviewing the content, click Save
- Click I reviewed it to finish saving
To edit a saved Client Summary, click the Edit button.
Sharing a Client Summary
You can share a Client Summary through the Client Portal. Clients must have Client Portal access to view shared summaries.
To share a summary:
- Select Share
- Follow the prompts to send the summary to the client and any relevant contacts
Note: If the summary hasn’t been saved, or if it has already been shared, the Share button won’t appear. For more information, see Updating and resharing a Client Summary.
Shared summaries are saved as documents in the client’s Files tab. For more information, see Managing the client's Files tab.
When your client views the summary in their Client Portal, they can select Submit to confirm they’ve reviewed it. The summary will then be marked as completed in their Files tab.
To print or download a Client Summary instead, click More, then select Print or Download.
Updating and resharing a Client Summary
If you need to make changes after sharing a summary, you can update and reshare it. When you do this, the original version is removed and replaced with the updated summary.
To do this:
- Click Edit
- Make your changes
- Click Save
- When prompted, select Save and remove
- The previously shared version will no longer be visible to the client
You can also remove a shared summary from the client’s Files tab:
- Select the 3 dots next to the summary
- Click Delete
The Client Summary draft will remain available on the appointment page, where you can edit and reshare it.
FAQs
- How are Client Summaries different from progress notes?
- Can clients see that the summary was AI-generated?
- Does the summary capture nonverbal observations?
- Can I choose what the summary focuses on?
- Does the summary include both the clinician's and the client's words?
- Can clients reply to or comment on a shared summary?
How are Client Summaries different from progress notes?
Client Summaries and progress notes serve different purposes and audiences:
- Progress notes are clinical documentation used for treatment and track client progress
- Client Summaries are client-facing overviews that highlight key insights and next steps in accessible, non-clinical language
Client Summaries aren't a replacement for progress notes or other clinical documentation. Both can be generated from the same session content, but they're created independently and used for different purposes. Client Summaries are intended to support communication with clients between sessions.
Can clients see that the summary was AI-generated?
No. Client Summaries shared through the Client Portal don't include any indication that they're generated with AI. Clients will only see the final version you review and share.
You’re responsible for determining when and how to disclose AI use to your clients. If you have questions, we recommend consulting your legal counsel, licensing board, or governing body.
Does the summary capture nonverbal observations?
No. In a telehealth session, the summary is generated from the session’s audio transcript, so it only reflects what was spoken. Nonverbal observations that aren’t verbalized won’t be included.
Can I choose what the summary focuses on?
Yes. You can manually edit the summary before saving or sharing it. For more information, see Editing and saving a Client Summary.
Does the summary include both the clinician's and the client's words?
This may vary depending on the source. For recorded telehealth sessions, both the clinician’s and client’s words are included. For dictation, only the speaker’s words are used as input.
Can clients reply to or comment on a shared summary?
No. Clients can’t directly respond to a shared summary. However, they can use Secure Messaging to follow up with you after reviewing it.