Medical scribing takes up headspace — whether you're doing it yourself or working with a human scribe.

Enter AI scribes. These tech-powered sidekicks are easing the weight of documentation, capturing the details of patient encounters and entering them into electronic health records (EHRs), without additional scheduling and costs.

Still, not every clinic is the same, and not every solution fits. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or somewhere in between, here’s a breakdown of how AI medical scribing stacks up against traditional methods.

AI scribes vs. traditional medical scribes: Comparison summary

What are AI scribes?

AI scribes are like invisible teammates — virtual assistants powered by artificial intelligence and natural language processing.

They transcribe patient encounters in real time and slot that data right into your EHR.

Designed to mirror the role of medical scribes, they add powerful extras like voice recognition, auto-formatting, and intelligent data entry.

What are traditional medical scribes?

Medical scribes are trained humans who shadow healthcare providers — in-person or virtually — capturing the story of each patient encounter. They'll either write these notes by hand or plug them directly into your electronic health record.

They organize info and update the medical record so the provider can stay focused in the session.

AI scribes vs. traditional medical scribes: What makes them different?

1. Cost

1. Cost

A traditional medical scribe earns around $17.46 per hour. That adds up—roughly $2,800/month or $33,000/year—plus costs for training, turnover, and admin time.

AI scribe solutions, by contrast, are subscription-based, usually between $99 to $299 per provider monthly, or $1,080 to $3,500 annually. That’s a big difference. While setup costs exist, they’re typically offset in just a few months.

For clinics juggling budgets and scaling fast, AI scribes are often the more cost-friendly pick.

2. Ease of use

Onboarding a human scribe takes time: training, preferences, scheduling. It works, but it’s rarely seamless.

AI scribes, on the other hand, are ready out of the box. They fit into your EHR like they’ve always been there, with voice recognition that just gets you. Some setup is still needed — especially for complex medical terminologies — but the ramp-up is short and smooth.

3. Scalability

Growing your team of human scribes means more hiring, training, and managing—not exactly plug-and-play.

AI scribes scale like software should. Add a provider? Just upgrade your subscription. No paperwork, no turnover, no bottlenecks.

4. Compliance and risk

When it comes to healthcare regulations like HIPAA, there’s zero room for human error.

Traditional scribes need careful vetting, constant monitoring, and trust.

AI scribes come built for security. Think encryption, audit trails, role-based access—all engineered for peace of mind. Freed, for example, is certified for SOC 2, HITECH, and fully HIPAA-compliant.

Pros and cons of traditional medical scribes

Traditional medical scribes have a lot to offer. Let's look at the full picture from both sides.

Have a look below for some pros and cons of traditional medical scribing.

Pros

1. Human understanding: Traditional scribes can interpret non-verbal cues, physician preferences, and patient context in a way that AI might miss. They adapt fluidly during complex conversations or nuanced patient encounters, which is a key aspect of patient care.
2. Human accountability: When medical information is taken down by a scribe, they have the responsibility and accountability for its accuracy. This can provide a sense of reassurance for physicians who may worry about errors in automated systems.
3. Established workflow integration: Many physicians are already familiar with working alongside human scribes, and the workflow may feel more natural for those who prefer interpersonal collaboration.

Cons

1. Higher costs: Employing a human scribe is significantly more expensive than using AI, especially when factoring in wages, training, and turnover.
2. Scalability challenges: As practices grow, adding more human scribes becomes logistically and financially burdensome.
3. Availability issues: Human scribes may be unavailable due to illness, vacations, or staffing shortages, potentially disrupting documentation workflows.
4. Inconsistent performance: Not all scribes have the same experience or skill level, which can lead to variability in documentation quality.

Pros and Cons of AI Scribes

In comparison, let's also look at what using AI scribes entails.

Pros

1. Cost-effective: AI scribes offer a much lower monthly and annual cost compared to hiring a human, making them appealing for both small practices and large systems.
2. Consistent output: AI tools provide uniform quality and never tire or vary in performance, ensuring reliable documentation.
3. Scalable: AI scribes can scale with minimal friction and zero recruitment overhead.
4. Always available: No sick days or scheduling conflicts. The AI scribe is ready to assist 24/7.
5. Compliance-focused: Many AI solutions are built to meet HIPAA standards and include audit trails, role-based access, and secure encryption.

Cons

1. Lacks human intuition: AI may miss contextual subtleties or tone, especially in emotionally sensitive encounters.
2. Learning curve and setup: While generally user-friendly, some providers may face a short adjustment period during implementation.
3. Tech limitations: Though advanced, voice recognition and EHR integration may still have occasional hiccups, especially in noisy environments or with uncommon medical terminology.
4. Privacy concerns: Despite HIPAA compliance, some clinicians may feel uneasy about sensitive patient information being processed through AI systems.

Next steps based on which you choose for your practice

What's next, then? Which do you pick?

Here's how you can decide:

If you're looking for the personal touch and don’t mind managing a bit more behind the scenes, medical scribes might be your best fit — especially in nuanced patient encounters.

Want to reduce costs, lighten your admin load, and scale with ease? AI scribes have your back.

Or, do both. A hybrid model lets you use AI for routine notes and lean on human scribes when care gets complex.

Freed gives you instant, accurate medical scribing — with zero onboarding hassles, full HIPAA compliance, and support that fits right into your workflow. Sign up for free.