How to Use AI Scribing with Valant: Streamline Your Psychiatry Documentation

If you're a psychiatrist spending more time on medication management notes than with your patients, you're not alone. Documentation burden is one of the leading causes of burnout in mental health practice—but it doesn't have to be this way.

AI scribing technology can integrate seamlessly with Valant, helping you reclaim hours each week while maintaining the detailed, compliant notes your practice requires.

Why Psychiatry Medication Management Notes Take So Long

Medication management visits in psychiatry are documentation-intensive by nature. You're tracking:

• Current medications, dosages, and adjustments

• Side effects and tolerability

• Symptom progression and treatment response

• Vital signs and relevant lab values

• Patient concerns and therapeutic rapport

• Risk assessments and safety planning

• Prior authorization requirements

Even a 15-minute med check can generate 20+ minutes of documentation when you factor in reviewing the chart, updating medication lists, and crafting a comprehensive note.

What AI Scribing Can Do for Your Valant Workflow

AI scribing solutions listen to your patient encounters (with proper consent) and automatically generate structured clinical notes. Here's how this transforms your workflow with Valant:

Before AI Scribing

1. See patient

2. Jot quick notes

3. Finish clinic

4. Spend evening completing documentation

5. Manually enter everything into Valant

After AI Scribing

1. Obtain patient consent

2. See patient with AI scribe running

3. Review AI-generated note

4. Import or paste into Valant

5. Move on with your day

Setting Up AI Scribing for Use with Valant

Step 1: Choose a Compatible AI Scribing Solution

Look for AI scribing tools that offer:

• HIPAA compliance and BAA agreements

• Psychiatry-specific templates

• Easy export options (text, structured data)

• Integration capabilities or simple copy-paste functionality

Step 2: Obtain Proper Patient Consent

This step is non-negotiable. Before using AI scribing with any patient:

• Explain that an AI tool will be listening to help with documentation

• Clarify that the recording is used solely for note generation

• Obtain written or documented verbal consent

• Note the consent in Valant

• Offer patients the option to decline

Many practices add AI scribing consent to their intake paperwork or create a simple addendum to existing consent forms.

Step 3: Configure Your Note Templates

Work with your AI scribing tool to create templates that match your Valant documentation preferences. For medication management, ensure your template captures:

• Chief Complaint/Reason for Visit

• Interval History (since last visit)

• Current Medications (with dosages)

• Medication Changes (new starts, adjustments, discontinuations)

• Side Effects Assessment

• Mental Status Exam

• Risk Assessment

• Assessment and Plan

Step 4: Establish Your Workflow

During the visit:

• Start the AI scribe at the beginning of the encounter

• Conduct your visit naturally—speak clearly but don't change your style

• Verbalize key clinical findings (the AI captures what's spoken)

• End the recording when the visit concludes

After the visit:

• Review the AI-generated note for accuracy

• Make any necessary edits or additions

• Copy the note into Valant or use available integration methods

• Sign and finalize the documentation

Tips for Success with AI Scribing in Psychiatry

Be Verbally Explicit

AI scribes capture spoken content. If you're observing something important—like a patient's affect or psychomotor activity—say it out loud: "I'm noting that your mood appears brighter today and you're making good eye contact."

Create a Consistent Verbal Structure

Train yourself to verbally summarize key points during the visit:

• "So we're increasing your sertraline from 50mg to 100mg daily..."

• "You mentioned the side effects from the medication have resolved..."

Review Every Note

AI scribing is a tool, not a replacement for clinical judgment. Always review generated notes for:

• Accuracy of medications and dosages

• Correct patient identifiers

• Appropriate clinical language

• Any hallucinated or incorrect information

Keep Consent Documentation Current

Document ongoing consent in Valant. Some practices note it in each progress note; others maintain a separate consent log.

Addressing Common Concerns

"Will patients feel uncomfortable being recorded?"
Most patients appreciate shorter visits with a more present provider. Explain the benefits and always respect those who decline.

"Is this HIPAA compliant?"
When using a properly vetted AI scribing solution with a signed BAA, yes. Do your due diligence on any tool you choose.

"What about sensitive disclosures?"
You can pause recording during sensitive portions of visits or use the AI scribe selectively for routine medication checks.

The Bottom Line

AI scribing won't replace your clinical expertise, but it can eliminate the documentation bottleneck that keeps you at your desk long after your last patient leaves. When paired with Valant's robust psychiatric EHR capabilities, you get the best of both worlds: efficient documentation and comprehensive practice management.

Start small—try AI scribing with straightforward medication management visits first. As you refine your workflow, you'll find those 20-minute note-writing sessions shrinking to quick 2-3 minute reviews.

Your patients deserve your full attention. Your evenings deserve to be your own. AI scribing can help you achieve both.

Ready to reduce your documentation burden? Explore AI scribing solutions compatible with your Valant workflow and take the first step toward a more sustainable practice.