Rhode Island's "Use of Artificial Intelligence by Healthcare Providers Notification Act" took effect on June 16, 2026, and it's notable for its brevity. At just 43 words, Section 23-106-3 of the Rhode Island General Statutes requires healthcare providers to notify patients when AI documents their visits and to review that documentation for accuracy.
If you're a compliance officer facing over 450 pending AI-related laws across the U.S., you need a straightforward approach to implement simple notification requirements before they evolve into complex audit issues. Here's a patient notification template you can adapt for Rhode Island's law and similar state requirements as they arise.
Purpose of the Template
This template provides ready-to-use patient notification language for AI use in clinical documentation. It covers:
- In-person visit documentation using ambient AI scribes or voice-to-text systems
- Telehealth visit documentation using automated transcription or note generation
- Any AI system that processes visit conversations into clinical records
The template does NOT cover AI use in diagnostics, imaging analysis, treatment recommendations, or billing. Rhode Island's law specifically addresses documentation of the visit itself.
Prerequisites
Before deploying this template, ensure:
Your AI system qualifies under the statute. Rhode Island defines AI as "any technology that can simulate human intelligence including, but not limited to, natural language processing, training language models, reinforcement learning from human feedback, and machine learning systems." If your tool uses rule-based transcription without machine learning, it may not require notification.
You have a review workflow in place. The law mandates a review of AI-generated documentation for accuracy. Your template won't help if clinicians can't review and correct the output before signing off.
You've mapped your notice delivery points. Decide whether you'll notify at appointment scheduling, check-in, or verbally before the visit starts. Your delivery method will shape the template language.
You've consulted legal counsel. This template is a starting point, but your state bar and malpractice carrier should review the final language.
The Template
Option A: Written Notice (Check-In or Pre-Visit)
Notice of AI Use in Visit Documentation
During your visit today, we use artificial intelligence technology to help document our conversation and create your medical record. This AI system listens to our discussion and generates notes based on what we say.
Your provider will review all AI-generated documentation for accuracy before it becomes part of your official medical record. You can ask questions about this process at any time.
[Optional: If you prefer that we not use AI documentation during your visit, please let us know and we will document your visit manually.]
Option B: Verbal Script (Clinician-Delivered)
"Before we start, I want to let you know that I use an AI tool to help document our visit. It listens to our conversation and creates draft notes, which I review and correct before they go into your chart. Do you have any questions about that?"
Option C: Combined Notice (Portal + In-Person Confirmation)
Patient portal message (sent 24 hours before appointment):
Your upcoming appointment with [Provider Name] will use AI-assisted documentation. This technology helps your provider spend more time focused on your care by creating draft visit notes, which your provider reviews for accuracy. If you have questions, please ask when you arrive.
In-person confirmation (at visit start):
"As mentioned in your portal message, I'll be using AI to help document today's visit. The system is running now. Everything it generates gets reviewed by me before it's finalized. Any questions before we begin?"
Customization Tips
Adjust for your patient population. If you serve patients with limited English proficiency, translate the notice and have interpreters explain the AI use verbally. For patients with low health literacy, simplify the language and focus on the review step: "A computer helps write my notes. I check everything before it goes in your file."
Match your technology's capabilities. If your AI system flags uncertain terms or low-confidence segments for manual review, mention that: "The AI highlights areas where it's uncertain, and I pay special attention to those sections." If your system integrates with specific EHR workflows, describe what the patient will see: "You may notice a small indicator in your patient portal showing which notes used AI assistance."
Address opt-out if you offer it. Rhode Island's law doesn't require offering a choice, but if your policy allows opt-out, make that clear and simple. Put it upfront: "If you'd prefer manual documentation, just let us know."
Specify your review standard. "Review for accuracy" is vague. Your template should reflect your actual review protocol. Be specific enough that patients understand what "review" means without turning the notice into a technical manual.
Consider HIPAA implications separately. This template addresses Rhode Island's AI notification requirement. It does NOT replace your HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices or your existing patient consent forms. Ensure your privacy team reviews how AI documentation fits into your broader data governance.
Validation Steps
Test with a patient advisory group. Read the notice aloud to 5-10 patients and ask: "What do you think this means? What questions does it raise?" If more than one person asks the same clarifying question, revise your template.
Audit your delivery workflow. For one week, have your front desk or clinical staff log every instance where the notice was (or wasn't) delivered. If your compliance rate is below 95%, your workflow needs adjustment.
Review a sample of documentation. Pull 20 patient charts where AI was used. Verify that (a) notice was documented, and (b) a clinician review step is evidenced in the record (timestamp, attestation, or edit history). If you can't prove both elements, you're not compliant.
Track patient questions and complaints. If patients consistently express confusion or concern after receiving your notice, log the questions, identify patterns, and revise your template to address the top three concerns.
Confirm your notice survives format changes. If you deliver the notice via patient portal, print it as a PDF and confirm it's still readable. If you deliver it on a check-in tablet, test it on the actual device in your waiting room lighting. If you deliver it verbally, record a clinician reading the script and listen for clarity.
Rhode Island's law is effective because it's simple, specific, and operationally feasible. Your compliance template should be the same. Deploy it, test it, and refine it as you learn what your patients actually need to hear.
