What next? A guide to discussing AI-generated health information with your care team: what to bring, what to ask and how to decide on next steps together.
Consider whether you need to share a whole report or record to ask what you want to know.
Reports may contain birth dates, addresses, record numbers, barcodes or identifying details in the text. Removing these reduces risk; it does not guarantee anonymity.
Check storage, review, training and deletion policies. Consumer AI apps may not have the protections of your patient portal.
You may have wanted an explanation, another possibility or help making sense of a result: “Could this explain what I’m feeling?” “Does this mean something serious?” “Would this change what I do next?”
Include relevant details you supplied and follow-up questions that changed the answer.
Save the relevant passage or a screenshot. Mark the part that helped, confused or worried you.
Note the app’s name and whether the answer drew on web sources, an uploaded file or the chat alone. That affects what needs checking. You do not need to investigate if you cannot find these details.
Use your care team’s secure channel to share personal health information.
You are not expected to know every detail that could matter. A clear, confident answer can still be incomplete or wrong. Your clinician can help assess how it fits your situation.
Examples include OpenEvidence, UpToDate Expert AI and Doximity Ask. These help clinicians explore clinical questions and supporting information.
Examples include Abridge and Microsoft Dragon Copilot. They can help draft clinical notes and support related workflows.
A clinician-focused tool still needs appropriate use, privacy protections and clinical judgment.
Most clinicians want patients actively involved in their care. Their experience with AI, confidence in particular tools and comfort using them vary.
If your clinician does not use AI, they can still assess the suggestion and explain their reasoning. Ask for an explanation you understand, and discuss your options.
Bring the relevant exchange and your main question. Let your clinician know what you hope to understand.
Briefly explain your concern and ask whether a message, phone call or appointment is the best next step.
Reviewing a long AI response may need a separate appointment so there is time to consider it properly. Ask about possible charges beforehand.
Discuss suggested tests or treatment changes with your clinician before acting on them.
General information, not individual medical advice.
Tool features change and do not establish medical reliability. Reviewed October 2026.
The same suggestions as a 10-page guide you can print, share with colleagues or bring to an appointment.