Leichhardt General Practice Policy for Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Correct as of 16 / 07 / 2026

Introduction

 

This policy outlines the safe, ethical, and compliant use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools within Leichhardt General Practice, ensuring alignment with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Standards for General Practices (5th Edition).

The policy ensures:

  • Patient safety and quality care are maintained

  • Confidentiality and privacy obligations are upheld

  • AI is used as a support tool, not a decision-maker

 

Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All GPs, registrars, nurses, allied health professionals

  • Administrative and reception staff

  • Contractors and students

It covers all AI tools, including:

  • Clinical decision support systems

  • Documentation/scribing tools

  • Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT-style tools)

  • Automation software used in administrative workflows

 

Definitions

Artificial Intelligence (AI):
Software capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, including data analysis, text generation, and clinical support.

Generative AI:
AI systems that create content such as clinical notes, summaries, or patient communications.

Clinical Decision Support (CDS):
AI tools that assist but do not replace clinician judgement.

 

Policy Statement

Leichhardt General Practice supports the responsible and controlled use of AI to enhance efficiency and patient care, provided that:

  • AI outputs are always reviewed by a qualified clinician

  • No AI tool replaces clinical judgement or accountability

  • Patient data is protected in accordance with Australian privacy law

  • AI use aligns with RACGP Standards, including:

    • C2 – Clinical Governance

    • C6 – Information Security

    • QI1 – Quality Improvement

 

Principles for AI Use

Patient Safety First

  • AI must not be used to make autonomous clinical decisions

  • All outputs must be clinically verified before use

Human Oversight

  • The treating GP remains fully responsible for:

    • Diagnosis

    • Treatment decisions

    • Documentation accuracy

Transparency

  • Patients should be informed if AI is used in:

    • Documentation (e.g., scribing tools)

    • Communication or summaries

Privacy and Confidentiality

  • No identifiable patient data is to be entered into:

    • Public AI tools

    • Non-compliant platforms

Unless:

  • The platform is approved, secure, and compliant with:

    • Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)

    • RACGP data security requirements

 

Acceptable Uses of AI

AI may be used for:

Clinical Support (with oversight)

  • Drafting clinical notes

  • Summarising patient histories

  • Generating patient education materials

Administrative Efficiency

  • Appointment summaries

  • Internal documentation

  • Policy drafting

Quality Improvement

  • Data analysis (de-identified)

  • Audit support

 

Prohibited Uses

AI must NOT be used for:

  • Autonomous diagnosis or prescribing

  • Uploading identifiable patient data into unsecured systems

  • Replacing clinical consultations

  • Generating medico-legal documents without review

  • Any use that compromises patient confidentiality

 

Data Security and Privacy

In alignment with RACGP C6 – Information Security:

  • Only approved AI tools may be used

  • All tools must meet:

    • Secure data storage requirements

    • No unauthorised offshore data transfer

  • Staff must not:

    • Copy/paste patient-identifiable data into public AI tools

  • Breaches must be reported under the practice’s:

    • Data breach policy

    • Incident management system

 

Clinical Governance and Risk Management

Aligned with RACGP C2 – Clinical Governance:

  • AI use is subject to:

    • Ongoing monitoring

    • Risk assessment

  • The practice will:

    • Maintain a register of approved AI tools

    • Review AI outputs periodically

    • Audit usage where appropriate

 

Staff Training and Responsibilities

All staff must:

  • Complete training on:

    • Safe AI use

    • Privacy obligations

  • Understand limitations of AI (bias, hallucinations, errors)

  • Use AI tools only within their scope of practice

 

Patient Consent

Where AI is used in patient care:

  • Verbal consent should be obtained if:

    • AI is directly involved in documentation or communication

  • Patients may opt out

 

Documentation Standards

  • AI-generated content must be:

    • Reviewed

    • Edited as required

    • Clearly attributable to the clinician

Medical records must meet RACGP requirements for:

  • Accuracy

  • Completeness

  • Timeliness

 

Incident Management

Any AI-related issue must be reported, including:

  • Clinical errors linked to AI

  • Data breaches

  • Misuse of AI tools

These will be managed under the practice’s:

  • Incident reporting system

  • Continuous quality improvement framework

 

Continuous Improvement (QI1)

The practice will:

  • Regularly review AI use

  • Incorporate feedback from staff and patients

  • Update policy in line with:

    • Regulatory changes

    • Emerging risks

      Review Schedule

This policy will be reviewed annually, earlier if:

    • New AI technologies are introduced

    • Regulatory requirements change