Medical organizations in Canada such as the CMPA are beginning to publish guidelines on how physicians should approach AI tools in their own practice.  Here is a quick start guide on how Pippen aligns with the CMPA guidelines and how physicians might inform their patients about Pippen’s use. 

Transparency and Consent

Why might Pippen record a patient’s conversation?

Patients’ information is recorded in order to help physicians document more efficiently.  Physicians are required to make notes of medical interactions with patients.  Recording with Pippen helps doctors achieve this.

What happens to patients’ recorded information?

As the conversation is being captured by our system, the models on our platform use the audio file to produce a transcript.  Once the conversation is complete, the transcript is produced and the audio file is deleted. The transcript is optionally saved by the physician.  

How long is patients’ information stored?

All audio files are deleted immediately after the transcript is produced.  Pippen will retain and profile and saved encounter details to ensure compliance with retention period requirements.  Physicians can choose to delete individual patient encounters in accordance with their retention requirements.    

Does patients’ information get sent to third-parties to improve their algorithms?

No.  Patients’ information does not leave our servers, which are located in Canada.  Patients’ information is not used to improve third-party algorithms.  

Is patients’ information used to improve Pippen?

Patients’ information may be used in a de-identified, aggregated and secure manner for purposes of improving Pippen, including Pippen-specific AI algorithm and model training and enhancing the platform. 

What are the risks and benefits of using Pippen?

Benefits include:

• Using Pippen can help family doctors provide more time to direct patient care. 
• Increased productivity gains may help address the family doctor shortage in Ontario
• Reduced burnout among family doctors
• Potential improvements in patient safety and outcomes, including flagging ‘do not miss’ diagnoses

Risks include:

• Potential poor patient outcomes (due to e.g. bias, usage in inappropriate contexts).  Pippen emphasizes that its information is not a substitute for clinician judgment. 
• Possible breaches of privacy and security

Privacy

What kind of things does Pippen do to meet privacy and security regulations?

Pippen was built with privacy at its core. As health information custodians ourselves, we understand the critical importance of patient confidentiality.  Safeguards include:

• Data hosted on private, secure servers all within Canada
• Models are also hosted on private, secure servers within Canada
• Data encrypted at rest as well as in transit
• Auto-deletion of all audio recordings
• Minimal information required to start an encounter
• Ensuring appropriate physical, administrative and technical safeguards

Pippen also works with legal and privacy experts with expertise at the intersection of privacy and AI to evaluate our compliance with PHIPA and PIPEDA principles. 

Does Pippen have a PIA?

Yes!  See here for our PIA highlights. 

Accuracy

How does Pippen ensure the accuracy of its models? 

Pippen employs continuous performance monitoring and regular reporting to track the system’s effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. We use this data to refine and enhance the platform. Pippen’s content is generated using carefully designed artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to assist you in your care for patients, but is not a replacement for your own clinical judgement. As a medical practitioner, you continue to be responsible at all times for the clinical decisions that you make with this information.

Other questions highlighted by the CMPA: 

• Are there appropriate safeguards for the collection, transfer, and use of patient data?
  • Yes.  Minimal data is required to begin the encounter, data and models are hosted on private, secure servers all within Canada, data is encrypted in transit and at rest, recordings are auto-deleted after the transcript is produced.  
• Are appropriate procedures followed and does the physician need to obtain consent if Pippen plans to store or use patient data to adapt the AI tool?
  • Yes.  Pippen has a PIA to ensure compliance with PHIPA and PIPEDA. Patient data is not sent to third parties to improve base algorithms, but Pippen may use data in a de-identified, aggregated manner to improve the Pippen platform to better serve physicians and patients.  
• Are measures in place to maintain high standards for patient safety and reliability?
  • Yes.  These include:
    • Performance Monitoring and Reporting: Pippen employs continuous performance monitoring and regular reporting to track the system’s effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. We use this data to refine and enhance the platform.
    • User Training and Support: Pippen provides comprehensive training documentation and support for family physicians. We ensure that they are aware that Pippen is not a substitute for clinical judgement, and that their own clinical judgement should be exercised before integrating any recommendations into patient care.
    • Data Privacy and Security: Pippen implements robust data encryption and security measures to protect patient information. Pippen has robust privacy and security measures for compliance with relevant healthcare regulations such as PHIPA and PIPEDA. 
    • Patient engagement: Pippen provides documentation to support doctors in obtaining consent from patients and ensuring they are informed about the use of AI in their care.
• What is the stated purpose and objective of the Pippen and is its use appropriate in the circumstances of your practice? This includes a clear understanding of the intended patient populations and the clinical use conditions.
  • Pippen’s intended purpose to alleviate administrative burden and improve practice efficiency for physicians.  Pippen primarily serves family doctors and supports their broad scope of care. 

We know that family doctors deal with sensitive data every day. Pippen was built with privacy at its core with robust measures to ensure our platform meets the highest privacy and security standards, so doctors can be assured that their patient data is safe.

For further questions, please contact team@pippen.ai and we would be happy to answer them!