Best AI Scribe for Occupational Therapy (2026)
Dr. Medeline Yost
Chief Medical Officer, Augustun
Published July 4, 2026
Updated July 4, 2026
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As an OT, you spend your day helping people do the things they need and want to do. But then you sit down to chart — SOAP notes, progress reports, evaluations, discharge summaries — and that can take hours. It is the number one reason OTs burn out.
AI scribes can change that. They listen during the session and write a structured note for you. The best ones understand OT-specific language like "assist levels," "functional goals," "adaptive equipment," and "skilled intervention" — so the note reads like you wrote it, not a generic robot.
This guide reviews the top 7 AI scribes for OTs. We explain each one, show who it fits best, and pick one clear winner. See the 10 best AI scribes overall for the broader landscape and our OT documentation guide for documentation fundamentals.
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At-a-glance comparison
| AI Scribe | Est. Monthly Pricing | EHR Integration | Setup Time | Best Fit / Strengths | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AugustunBest | $69/mo (unlimited) | Broad EHR (Epic, Cerner, Athena & 400+) | Same-day | OT-aware; strong accuracy & security | Editor's pick for OT |
| Freed | Low / budget | Minimal | Very quick | Solo OTs or small practices on a budget | Less OT-specific; more manual cleanup |
| Heidi Health | Mid-tier | Some integrations | Quick | Clean notes with customizable templates | Templates need OT customization |
| Simbie | Mid-tier | Limited / copy-paste | Moderate | Rehab therapy practices (OT, PT, SLP) | Newer platform; smaller user base |
| S10.AI | Enterprise | Enterprise integrations | Complex (IT-led) | Large rehab organizations needing uniform templates | Too complex for solo OTs |
| PatientNotes | Mid-tier | Limited | Quick | Quick SOAP note drafts from voice | Lacks deep OT-specific understanding |
| NotuDocs | Mid-tier | Some integrations | Quick | Template-based documentation for rehab | Better for PT than OT |
Augustun
Best for everyone. The clear all-around winner for OT.
Augustun is an ambient AI medical scribe built for the way clinicians actually work. It is not a generic transcription tool tweaked for rehab — it understands OT concepts from the ground up, and that makes all the difference in your documentation.
You start a session on your computer or phone and Augustun listens in the background. Its AI understands concepts like "moderate assist for sit-to-stand transfer," "therapeutic handling," "adaptive equipment training," and "functional goal progression" — then turns the conversation into a clean SOAP, DAP, or BIRP note. It suggests ICD-10 diagnoses and CPT codes automatically, including 97530 (therapeutic activities), 97535 (self-care/home management training), and 97165–97168 (OT evaluation codes).
The note appears in a simple editor where you can adjust anything with one click. When you are happy, Augustun pushes it straight into your EHR through a browser extension that works with Epic, Cerner, Athena and 400+ systems — no copying and pasting. Recordings are never stored, and the platform is HIPAA and GDPR compliant, so patient privacy is locked down. See Augustun for occupational therapy for the full workflow and OT SOAP note examples for the formats it produces.
Pros
- Unbeatable accuracy for OT: truly understands assist levels, ADLs, and functional language.
- Ambient and almost effortless: little typing or clicking needed.
- All-in-one: records, writes SOAP/DAP/BIRP notes, suggests ICD-10/CPT codes, and sends to your EHR.
- Top privacy: HIPAA + GDPR compliant and recordings are never stored.
- Works with 400+ EHRs via a browser extension — no rip-and-replace.
- Great value: saves so much time it pays for itself quickly.
Cons
- Purpose-built for clinical documentation, so it is laser-focused on notes rather than broader practice-management extras.
Best for: Any OT who wants accuracy, speed, and a complete documentation workflow.
Freed
Best for solo OTs or small practices watching their budget.
Freed is known for being simple and affordable. It offers a straightforward way to record a session and get a text draft — a basic, reliable starting point for AI documentation without a big investment.
You record with a phone app, Freed turns the audio into text, and AI formats that text into a note structure. It is less specialized for OT, so you will likely need to edit the note to add proper assist levels, functional language, and activity-specific detail. But for the price, it removes most of the typing burden.
Pros
- Very low cost and simple pricing.
- Easy to start using with no complex setup.
- Good for getting a fast first draft of a note.
Cons
- Lacks deep OT-specific understanding of assist levels and ADLs.
- Requires more manual editing and cleanup for OT terminology.
- Fewer advanced features like EHR connection or auto-coding.
Best for: Budget-conscious solo OTs who mainly want to cut typing time.
Heidi Health
Best for OTs who want clean, customizable note templates.
Heidi Health offers a clean interface and highly customizable note templates. You can build OT-specific templates that match exactly the format your clinic or payer requires, from SOAP to progress notes to evaluation summaries.
The catch is that you have to configure those templates yourself. Heidi does not come pre-loaded with OT-specific formats, so there is upfront work to get it right. Once configured, the notes are clean and consistent — a good fit for OTs who know exactly what format they want and are willing to invest the setup time.
Pros
- Clean, modern interface that is easy to navigate.
- Highly customizable templates for any note format.
- Supports multiple note formats including SOAP and DAP.
Cons
- Requires manual template setup for OT-specific documentation.
- Less ambient than tools that listen and write automatically.
- OT-specific templates are not pre-built — you start from scratch.
Best for: OTs who want to design their own note templates from scratch.
Simbie
Best for multi-disciplinary rehab practices (OT, PT, SLP).
Simbie is built for rehab therapy broadly, so it understands ADLs, functional language, and the kinds of goals OTs, PTs, and SLPs write. If your practice has multiple disciplines on one roster, Simbie lets everyone use the same platform with discipline-specific templates.
It is a newer company with a smaller user base, which means fewer integrations and a less mature feature set compared to established tools. But for a multi-discipline rehab clinic that wants a single documentation platform, it is a solid option worth watching as it grows.
Pros
- Built specifically for rehab therapy workflows.
- Supports OT, PT, and SLP on one platform.
- Good understanding of functional language and ADLs.
Cons
- Newer platform with a smaller user base and track record.
- Limited EHR integrations — often requires copy-paste.
- Fewer advanced features compared to more established tools.
Best for: Multi-discipline rehab practices that want one platform for OT, PT, and SLP.
S10.AI
Best for large rehab organizations needing enterprise-grade control.
S10.AI is an enterprise documentation platform built for hospital systems and large rehab organizations. It lets administrators design uniform note templates that every therapist must use, which is ideal for compliance and billing consistency across dozens of providers.
The tradeoff is complexity. Setup is IT-led and can take weeks, pricing is enterprise-level, and individual OTs have little flexibility to customize their own workflows. For a solo practitioner or small practice, S10.AI is overkill — but for a large organization with strict compliance requirements, it delivers the control they need.
Pros
- Enterprise-grade compliance and uniform template enforcement.
- Consistent documentation across large teams of therapists.
- Detailed audit trails for billing and regulatory review.
Cons
- Complex, IT-led setup that takes weeks to deploy.
- Enterprise pricing that is too expensive for small practices.
- Not flexible enough for individual OTs who want personalized workflows.
Best for: Large rehab organizations with IT teams and compliance requirements.
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Let AI handle your clinical notes.
Augustun listens during the visit and creates complete notes in seconds — so you can stay focused on the patient.
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PatientNotes
Best for OTs who want a quick voice-to-note draft.
PatientNotes is a simple voice-to-note tool. You speak your observations after a session — what the patient did, how they performed, what you worked on — and PatientNotes creates a SOAP note draft in seconds. It is fast and has a low learning curve.
The output is fairly generic, though. You will need to go back and add OT-specific detail like assist levels, functional performance measures, and skilled intervention justification. It is a good starting point for OTs who prefer dictating notes and then editing, but it will not replace the need for clinical detail.
Pros
- Fast voice input with near-instant SOAP output.
- Simple interface with a low learning curve.
- Good for generating a quick first draft.
Cons
- Generic output that lacks OT-specific terminology and detail.
- Requires manual editing to add assist levels and functional language.
- Limited EHR integrations.
Best for: OTs who prefer dictating notes and editing a draft.
NotuDocs
Best for rehab therapists who want structured templates and guidance.
NotuDocs offers structured documentation templates with built-in guidance that helps therapists write thorough, compliant notes. It includes setting-specific templates for outpatient, SNF, and home health, along with educational content that explains what each section of the note should contain.
The platform is stronger for PT than OT. OT-specific templates exist but are less mature, and the AI is more template-driven than truly ambient — you fill in structured fields rather than having the tool listen and write for you. It is a good fit for newer therapists who want documentation guidance alongside their tool.
Pros
- Structured templates with built-in documentation guidance.
- Educational content that helps newer therapists write better notes.
- Setting-specific templates for different practice environments.
Cons
- Stronger for PT than OT — OT templates are less developed.
- Less ambient — more template-driven than AI-driven.
- Filling in structured fields can feel slower than voice-based tools.
Best for: Rehab therapists who want structured guidance alongside their documentation tool.
What to look for when choosing an AI medical scribe
How we picked the best
We evaluated each tool on accuracy with OT terminology, understanding of assist levels and functional goals, supported note formats (SOAP, DAP, evaluations, progress notes), EHR compatibility, privacy and compliance posture, and cost. Tools that understood OT-specific concepts out of the box scored highest.
What is your main goal?
If your main goal is saving time with minimal effort, look at Augustun for occupational therapy or Freed. If you want full control over your note templates, Heidi Health lets you design them from scratch. If you need one platform for OT, PT, and SLP, Simbie is built for multi-discipline practices.
What setting do you work in?
OTs work in outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health, schools, and acute care — and each setting has different documentation demands. Augustun works across all of them with flexible note formats. Simbie focuses mainly on outpatient rehab. NotuDocs offers setting-specific templates but is stronger for PT. Consider which tool matches the settings you actually practice in.
Do you need EHR integration?
If you want notes to flow directly into your chart, Augustun connects to Epic, Cerner, Athena and 400+ EHRs through a browser extension — no IT project required. Most other tools on this list require copy-paste, which adds time and introduces errors. S10.AI offers enterprise integrations but requires IT-led setup.
What is your budget?
If every dollar counts, start with Freed. For the best return on investment — ambient capture, OT-aware notes, ICD-10/CPT coding, and 400+ EHR integrations — Augustun is the strongest value at $69 per month. Enterprise organizations with larger budgets and compliance needs may consider S10.AI.
Check the documentation formats
Make sure the tool supports the note formats you actually use: SOAP, DAP, evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. Augustun supports them all and suggests the right CPT codes for OT services. For documentation fundamentals, see our OT documentation guide and OT SOAP note examples.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI scribe for occupational therapy?
An AI scribe for OT is a tool that listens during your therapy session and writes a structured clinical note for you. The best ones understand OT-specific language — assist levels, ADLs, functional goals, adaptive equipment — and turn the session conversation into a SOAP, DAP, or progress note you can review, edit, and sign in minutes instead of typing from scratch.
Is an AI scribe safe for patient information in OT?
The best tools are built for healthcare privacy. Augustun is HIPAA and GDPR compliant, recordings are never stored, and patient data is never used to train public AI models. Always confirm a vendor's compliance posture and data-handling policy before you start using any AI scribe with patient sessions.
Will an AI scribe connect to my OT practice's EHR?
It depends on the tool. Many budget options rely on copy-paste, while enterprise tools require IT-led integration projects. Augustun connects to Epic, Cerner, Athena and 400+ EHRs through a browser extension, so you can push finished notes into the chart with one click and no setup project.
How much time can an OT save with an AI scribe?
Most OTs save 10–15 minutes per patient on documentation, which adds up to one to two hours every day. That is time you can use to see more patients, reduce your after-hours charting, or simply leave work on time — which is why a good AI scribe pays for itself quickly.
Which AI scribe is best for school-based OT?
School-based OTs need documentation that aligns with IEP goals, educational relevance, and functional participation in the classroom. Augustun handles these concepts well because it understands functional goals and adaptive strategies across all OT settings, including schools. For a broader look at OT documentation, see our OT documentation guide.
The bottom line
OT documentation is necessary but exhausting. AI scribes remove the worst part of the job — the typing — so you can focus on your patients and the meaningful clinical work you trained to do.
After comparing all seven, Augustun stands out. It speaks OT language, understands assist levels and functional goals, produces clean SOAP and DAP notes with ICD-10 and CPT codes, connects to 400+ EHRs, and keeps patient data private with HIPAA and GDPR compliance and no stored recordings.
Other tools fit specific needs — Freed for tight budgets, Simbie for multi-discipline practices, S10.AI for large organizations. But for most OTs who want a tool that just works, Augustun for occupational therapy is the best AI scribe for the job. You trained to help people live their lives — let a tool handle the paperwork. For documentation fundamentals, see our OT documentation guide and OT SOAP note examples.
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Spend more time with patients, not paperwork.
Augustun transforms ambient speech into accurate notes — finished before your next session.
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Dr. Medeline Yost
Chief Medical Officer, Augustun
Dr. Medeline Yost is an Internal Medicine physician and an emerging leader in clinical innovation. As Chief Medical Officer at Augustun, she helps shape AI-powered tools that streamline clinical documentation and support physicians in delivering higher-quality care. Her professional interests include medical education, workflow redesign, and the responsible use of AI in healthcare — building systems that let clinicians spend more time with patients and less on administrative tasks.