Blog

Over the last year, we’ve heard the same request from physicians again and again:
“Can someone just vet these AI scribes, make sure they’re safe, and give us a list to choose from?”

The Ministry of Health partnered with Supply Ontario and OntarioMD (OMD) to create a clinician-led, evidence-informed Ontario AI Scribe Program featuring a VOR list complemented by OMD’s adoption support services for physician practices. The VOR list isn’t just a vendor directory—it’s a curated selection built around real-world clinical needs, privacy and security standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Clinician-Driven
  Every criterion, from documentation accuracy to workflow fit, was developed in collaboration with primary care physicians and incorporated input from the Ontario Medical Association, Section of General and Family Physicians, and our AI Scribe Evaluation Study.

• Regulator-Aligned, so you know that it is safe
  We sought input from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC), and other health system stakeholders to ensure comprehensive alignment with privacy and security requirements and the medico-legal obligations of physicians.

• Flexible & Future-Ready
  Technology evolves quickly. The VOR list is designed to expand and adapt as AI scribes mature and functionality improves.

Why so many AI scribe vendors?

1. Fuel Innovation Through Choice
   Early restrictions on vendor participation can choke competition and hinder competitive pricing. A wider initial field as identified in the VOR list encourages fresh ideas and fuels innovation.

2. Clinician-Led Market Evolution
   Real-world usage data and physician feedback will naturally spotlight top performers. The roster will gravitate toward the most effective, user-friendly options as you pilot, compare, and comment.

“We wanted to ensure physicians had the freedom to choose, and more importantly, the freedom to lead.”

3. Easy to Change to a Different Vendor
   Clinicians can adopt or swap solutions quickly without costly system overhauls by treating AI scribes as “bolt-on” tools rather than built into their EMRs.

Why are these solutions not integrated into my EMR?

The Ontario AI Scribe Program chose non-integrated AI scribes from Canadian vendors for this initial launch because:

1. Simpler Privacy & Limited Liability: Avoids extra complexity around EMR data sharing.

2. Immediate Adoption: Quicker set-up without EMR vendor delays.

3. Physician Control: You remain in the driver’s seat—so that it is not the EMR vendor choosing the product for you.

4. Flexibility: Gives you the flexibility to use the AI scribe in many different locations or different clinics with different EMRs.

A “Vetted List” and more:  Support, guidance & change management

We know that some of you can just start using an AI scribe “out of the box”, but we also know some clinicians would like help choosing, training or customizing their use of the AI scribe. OMD will provide you with the high-quality support services you’ve come to expect from us:

• Workflow Consultations: Help you match the right scribe to your practice style or speciality.

• Patient Consent:  We are always here to answer questions and we have developed a toolkit on patient consent to make it easier for you to manage it.

• Change Management Resources: From hands-on support to training modules, our Advisors will ensure you can implement changes to your practice efficiently.

• Education and AI Literacy: Peer-led webinars, conferences and modules to stay informed about the latest developments in AI scribe technology and more can be found on the OMD Practice Hub.

Will there be funding?

Right now, no funding is available to acquire solutions from this VOR list.

In a recent physician forum, many acknowledged that while funding is important, privacy, security, and liability alignment come first. Through the VOR list, we will have group-buying power to ensure prices are fair and better than market prices.

Next Steps

• Explore the Ontario AI Scribe Program at https://omdpracticehub.com/

• Reach out to our Advisory Staff for help at support@ontariomd.com

• Join our webinars and come to our Digital Health Conference

• Share your feedback to help the program refine the criteria and grow the roster

Final Thoughts

I am proud of this kind of collaboration, and it gives me hope—not just for AI scribes, but for how we approach all digital and AI tools on the horizon.  The initiative is clinician-led, regulator-aligned, and rooted in a shared vision for safe, thoughtful, and empowering digital health adoption.

This VOR is only the beginning. Program partners built this for you, WITH you. The future of digital health care isn’t something done to us—it’s something we create together and lead.

Dr. Chandi Chandrasena