Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare globally, promising new ways to improve outcomes, streamline processes, and redefine how care is delivered.
Here at ORS, we are proud to be at the forefront of this evolution with our own internal large language model chatbot, ORSON. What sets ORSON apart is its design for safe, secure handling of client data—fully compliant with privacy standards and legislation—allowing our clinicians to harness AI’s power without compromising confidentiality or trust.
But beyond the technology itself, why is ORS embracing AI? What do we hope to achieve, and how does it align with our values and purpose?
AI is Enabling Our People to Focus on What Matters Most
One of the clearest benefits of AI integration at ORS is the significant reduction in administrative burden. Across healthcare, a disproportionate amount of staff time is swallowed by documentation, data entry, and report writing—tasks essential for quality and accountability yet often distracting from direct client interaction.
By implementing ORSON and other AI tools to enhance these processes, we aim to liberate our clinicians from unnecessary paperwork. This frees up precious time that can be redirected into the core of what we do: working directly with clients to understand their goals, tailor therapy, and changing people’s lives.
Addressing Staff Burnout and Enhancing Creativity
Burnout among healthcare professionals is a growing concern. The relentless demands of paperwork combined with the emotional toll of client care can exhaust even the most passionate practitioners. AI can serve as a cognitive ally—lightening mental workloads through intelligent summarisation, smart scheduling, and rapid access to clinical information.
This cognitive relief supports clinicians not only practically but creatively, empowering them to apply their professional judgement more fully and innovate in their therapeutic approaches. At ORS, we view AI not as a replacement but as an enrichment.
Enhancing Clinical Session Intervention Planning
AI large language models like ORSON offer exciting possibilities for enhancing clinical session intervention planning. For example, in Occupational Therapy (OT), clinicians often need to design personalised, goal-oriented activities that consider a client’s unique functional abilities, preferences, and environmental context.
ORSON can assist by synthesising vast amounts of relevant clinical evidence and client information to suggest tailored intervention strategies.
Imagine an occupational therapist working with a client recovering from a stroke: ORSON could have access to all the relevant clinical information and reports and quickly generate a range of meaningful, graded activities that promote fine motor skills and independence in daily living, drawing on the latest research and similar client cases. It is essential the OT reviews all suggestions from the LLM and uses their clinical reasoning before finalising the plan
However, this support not only saves time but also helps clinicians explore creative, evidence-informed approaches, ultimately enhancing therapy effectiveness and client engagement.
Being Clear: It’s Not About Seeing More Clients
Let’s be frank: the introduction of AI often sparks concerns about increased productivity demands—seeing more clients in less time. At ORS, we want to be clear. Our adoption of AI is not driven by a desire to “speed through” caseloads or maximise throughput.
Instead, we foresee that productivity improvements will flow naturally as clinicians spend less time on non-clinical tasks and more time providing high-quality, client-centred care. Enhanced productivity, in this sense, means better use of time, not simply more clients serviced. It is a measure of value delivered, not volume increased.
Innovative Advantages Beyond the Obvious
While reduced admin and burnout mitigation are vital, AI opens further avenues that we are actively exploring at ORS:
- Data-driven clinical insights: AI can analyse patterns across large datasets to support early identification of client needs or risks, helping personalise care plans in more dynamic ways.
- Supporting multidisciplinary collaboration: Intelligent platforms enable smoother communication and shared decision-making across diverse therapy teams, aligning client goals holistically.
- Continuous professional development: AI can highlight emerging best practices or knowledge gaps for targeted staff training, fostering a culture of lifelong learning.
- Enhancing client engagement: By supporting tailored education and follow-ups, AI tools can empower clients to participate more actively in their own rehabilitation journeys.
These innovations underscore how AI can transform clinical practice, not only automate tasks but amplify human expertise.
Ethics and Bias: Foundations of Responsible AI Use
As we adopt AI, ORS remains acutely aware of ethical obligations. AI systems risk perpetuating or even amplifying biases present in data or design, with significant implications for equity and fairness in care delivery.
Privacy protections are non-negotiable; client data is treated with the utmost care, safeguarded against unauthorised access and aligned with stringent privacy laws.
Central to our AI initiatives is the commitment to obtaining informed client consent, ensuring individuals understand how AI supports their care. Maintaining transparency about AI’s role supports a collaborative approach between clinicians and clients which helps integrate AI as a complementary resource within personalised care plans.
Empowering Participants and Patients Through Collaborative AI Use
At the heart of ORS’s approach to AI is a firm commitment to client-centred care. AI tools like ORSON are designed to support, not supplant, the collaborative relationship between clinician and client. Clients remain active partners in their rehabilitation journey, engaging with clinicians to set goals, make decisions, and reflect on progress.
AI enhances this collaboration by providing clinicians with richer insights and personalised resources that can be transparently shared with clients. This openness helps clients better understand their therapy options and the rationale behind intervention plans. With more information at their fingertips, clients feel empowered to contribute meaningfully to their care.
We see AI as a bridge that strengthens the clinician-client alliance—enabling informed conversations, promoting shared decision-making, and respecting each person’s unique experiences and preferences. This partnership ensures AI tools serve clients’ individual needs and aspirations, fostering trust and supporting autonomy throughout their therapeutic journey.
Leading with Vision and Responsibility
In embracing AI for good, ORS is not simply adopting new technology—we are reaffirming our commitment to our values, being passionate about the potential it will bring to people lives.
Our vision is to cultivate a best practice AI ecosystem within ORS that not only advances clinical excellence but also supports client and patient inclusivity. ORS will continue to engage with industry experts, regulatory bodies, and our clients to uphold best practices and ensure that our AI integration remains transparent, accountable, and aligned with the highest standards of care. By doing so, we aim to set a benchmark for responsible AI use in healthcare, reflecting our dedication to empowering both our workforce and the clients we serve.
