AI Scribing vs. AI Pre-Charting: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Cancer Care

Cancer care requires precision and time. Oncologists must review treatment histories, pathology reports, imaging, and labs before every patient encounter, all while managing the documentation burden that comes with modern healthcare.

Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), two complementary innovations are reshaping oncology workflows:

AI Scribing and AI-powered Pre-Charting. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they actually address different parts of the documentation process.

What is AI Scribing?

AI scribing refers to the use of speech recognition, ambient listening, and recognition technology to capture clinical conversations in real time and generate structured clinical documentation.

• When it happens: During or immediately after the patient visit.

• Purpose: To reduce time on clinical note writing and ease administrative tasks.

• Who benefits: Doctors, medical scribes, ER scribes, clinics, and hospitals looking to lighten the workload while keeping documentation accurate.

For oncologists, AI scribing means less typing and more focus on patient interaction during the visit.

What is AI-Powered Pre-Charting?

AI-powered pre-charting is a proactive application of AI. Instead of waiting for the patient encounter, the AI prepares a clinical note before the visit.

• When it happens: Prior to the patient appointment.

• Purpose: To gather relevant history, labs, oncology treatments, and medications automatically.

• Who benefits: Oncologists and primary care teams who need quick, accurate context before seeing complex cancer patients.

This saves time, reduces errors, and ensures the provider begins the consultation fully informed.

Why the Distinction Matters in Cancer Care

Both tools help reduce the documentation burden, but they support different stages of care:

• AI Scribing = During visit documentation (capturing conversations, building notes in real time).

• AI Pre-Charting = Before visit preparation (assembling relevant history and oncology data).

Together, they streamline document processes across the continuum of care—before, during, and after patient encounters.

Benefits for Oncologists and Healthcare Professionals

1. Efficiency – Save hours of manual record review and typing.

2. Accuracy – Reduce errors in complex oncology medical documentation.

3. Patient Care – Spend more time on patient interaction and decision-making.

4. Collaboration – Share accurate charts across oncology, primary care, and hospital teams.

The Bigger Picture: Medical Scribe Software Trends

For tech adopters in healthcare, both AI scribing and pre-charting represent key medical scribe software trends. Industry leaders, including groups like the Permanente Medical Group, are exploring these solutions to:

• Enhance real-time speech recognition accuracy.

• Automate document processes for efficiency.

• Support medical scribes with AI assistance.

• Improve workflows in hospitals, clinics, and oncology practices.

AI-powered tools that cut down on administrative work and let doctors spend more time on what matters to patient care.

Final Takeaway

• AI Scribing = Captures the encounter in real time.

• AI Pre-Charting = Prepares the encounter before it begins.

In oncology, both innovations are game-changers. Together, they reduce the documentation burden, optimize clinical notes, and allow oncologists, hospitals, and healthcare professionals to deliver better patient outcomes.

The future of cancer care isn’t just about treatments, it's about smarter documentation powered by AI.