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How AI Can Support Your Practice, and Where to Be Cautious

Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 01:12 PM

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become part of everyday life. From drafting emails and summarizing information to brainstorming ideas and organizing tasks, AI tools are changing the way many people work.

For holistic health practitioners, these tools may offer new ways to save time, manage a practice, and support learning. However, using AI also comes with important considerations, particularly when it comes to accuracy, privacy, and professional responsibility.

So, where can AI fit into your practice, and where should you be cautious?

How Can AI Support Your Practice?

One of the biggest potential benefits of AI is helping with everyday administrative and business tasks.

If you operate your own practice, you might consider using AI to help:

  • brainstorm social media or newsletter ideas
  • draft general appointment reminders or client communications
  • create frequently asked questions for your website
  • organize ideas for a marketing or business plan
  • summarize lengthy information into key points
  • brainstorm topics for professional development or further research

AI can be particularly useful when you are staring at a blank page and aren't sure where to start.

However, the information it provides should generally be treated as a starting point rather than a final answer.

Check the Information You Receive

AI tools can produce responses that sound confident and convincing, even when the information is incomplete or incorrect.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified several potential uses for generative AI in health care, including education, research, administration, and responding to questions.

At the same time, they caution that AI-generated information can contain errors, inaccuracies, or biases. The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario also outlines Risks of Using Artificial Intelligence in Practice.

Before using information generated by AI, ask yourself:

  • Can I confirm this information through a credible source?
  • Is the information current?
  • Does it fall within my scope of practice?
  • Would I be comfortable relying on this information without verifying it?

Your education, experience, professional standards, and judgment should always guide the decisions you make in your practice.

Protect Client Privacy

Privacy is another important consideration when using AI tools.

Canada's privacy regulators recommend being cautious about entering personal, confidential, or sensitive information into AI systems.

Practitioners should avoid entering identifiable client information, such as:

  • names and contact information
  • health histories
  • treatment notes
  • assessment information
  • appointment records
  • other confidential client details

If you are using AI to assist with a general task, consider whether the information can be anonymized or removed entirely.

It is also important to understand the privacy practices of any AI platform you use. Different tools may collect, store, and use information differently, so review the platform's privacy policy before entering sensitive information.

Key things to look for include:

  • data residency: where information is stored and processed
  • AI training: whether your data may be used to train or improve the platform
  • data retention: how long information is kept and whether it can be deleted
  • encryption: how information is protected during transmission and storage
  • third-party access: whether information may be shared with other service providers

A platform described as "secure" or "private" may not necessarily be appropriate for client information.

If you have questions about what client information you can collect or about the NHPC Standards of Practice, please contact our Practice Management staff rather than relying on AI for guidance.

AI Doesn't Replace the Practitioner

A person using AI on a laptop

AI can help organize information, generate ideas, and make some tasks more efficient, but there are important parts of holistic health practice that technology cannot replace.

Listening to a client, observing changes, adapting your approach, building trust, and understanding an individual's needs are all essential parts of client care.

Think of AI as another tool in your toolbox, rather than a substitute for your professional knowledge or the human, hands-on connection you provide.

Start Small

You don't need to completely change the way you work to explore AI.

Consider starting with lower-risk tasks, such as:

  • brainstorming marketing ideas
  • drafting general business content
  • organizing your thoughts
  • using an AI note taker for SOAP notes (with permission from clients)
  • simplifying information for your own understanding

Always review what AI produces, confirm important information through reliable sources, and protect client confidentiality.

As these tools continue to evolve, learning how to use them responsibly can help you determine where they may and may not fit into your practice.

Want to Learn More?

Interested in exploring AI and how it could support your practice?

Our upcoming webinar on AI, Ethics, and Informed Consent will explore AI and practical ways practitioners can use these emerging tools. If you missed the event, reach out to our team at events@nhpcanada.org to express interest in future events on this topic.

For additional reading, explore the WHO's Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence for Health and guidance on responsible and privacy-protective generative AI from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

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