Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work across most industries, and healthcare and assistive tech are no exceptions. There's still plenty of uncertainty about what the future looks like, and what AI can and can't – or should – assist with.
For Occupational Therapists, AI is likely to become another tool within an already technology-enabled profession. Some applications are focused on reducing administrative work, while others are being developed to support clinical decision-making, research, communication and assistive technology.
Here are some of the ways AI is already becoming part of healthcare, and how we're approaching AI at Country Care.
AI Is Already Part of Healthcare
AI is becoming a big part of everyday healthcare, from helping with admin and documentation to supporting clinical work and assistive technology. Within occupational therapy, these tools are starting to appear in day-to-day areas like documentation, assessment, decision-making and equipment.
Some of the ways AI is already used in healthcare include:
The applications are broad, and so are the considerations around how these technologies should be used. Ahpra provides guidelines on meeting your professional obligations when using AI, offering a useful reference for understanding where AI can be used appropriately and where caution is needed.
Five Things OTs Should Know About Using AI
Recent research into Australian Occupational Therapists found that practitioners see potential for AI to reduce paperwork and support documentation, but many reported low confidence and a need for practical training.
This makes AI literacy more important than ever. The goal is to understand where a tool can genuinely help, where it can't, and how to use it responsibly.
We know that as experienced OTs, things like client confidentiality are always front of mind for you. These points below connect what you already prioritise to this newer, fast-moving space.
Reducing Repetitive Work
At Country Care, our approach is practical and focused on where AI and automation can improve the way people work. The aim is to reduce repetitive work, improve access to reliable information and create simpler experiences for staff, customers, Occupational Therapists and provider partners.
We're exploring automation in areas where repetitive processing, manual checking and exception handling can be made more efficient. The goal is to be more deliberate about where our team's time goes, not to take people out of the process. This way our team has more valuable time to focus on the areas where their unique skills and judgement are needed.
Making Information Easier to Access
We're also working to make digital tools and processes simpler, so information is easier to find and teams can work together more smoothly. This includes making sure teams have access to consistent information, reducing the need to manually check and compare information across different systems.
For OTs, this could eventually mean clearer access to relevant product and equipment information, while retaining the value of in-store expertise, hands-on trials and professional judgement.
There may also be opportunities to make communication between therapists, clients, providers and Country Care teams simpler, helping everyone move through the process with less unnecessary back-and-forth.
Keeping Governance at the Centre
AI Is Only Useful When It's Used Responsibly
That applies whether it's a tool we've built ourselves, embedded in a product, or brought in from a third party. Privacy, security, approved tools, access controls and human oversight matter either way.
AI is still a developing area, both for the profession and for us. What counts as sensible AI use today may look different in twelve months, as tools mature and regulatory guidance catches up. We expect our own approach to keep evolving too, and we'll share updates as that happens.
Have Questions About AI and Your Practice?
If you'd like to talk through how these tools might fit your day-to-day work, get in touch with our team.