AI is changing allied health consultations, Zanda survey finds

A Zanda survey of 682 allied health practitioners found that 70% have had clients bring AI-generated health information into consultations, and more than a third have seen clients challenge clinical judgment with it. The findings point to a growing split between AI's use as an administrative tool and its influence on care conversations.

Why it matters: - AI is no longer just a back-office tool in allied health. Client use of AI is now shaping consultations, challenging clinical advice and forcing practitioners to address misinformation in real time. - The findings also show a second pressure point: practitioners are using AI to reduce documentation load as paperwork demands continue to rise.

What happened: - Zanda surveyed 682 allied health practitioners between March and May 2026 for its report, The State of AI Adoption in Allied Health in 2026. - 70% of respondents said clients referenced AI-generated health information during consultations in the past 12 months. - More than one-third said clients challenged their clinical judgment based on information from an AI tool. - The survey drew responses from practitioners in Australia, the UK, the US, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, South Africa and other markets.

The details: - Respondents said AI sometimes helped clients arrive with clearer questions and better preparation. - Other clients used AI-generated information to question clinical advice during appointments. - Damien Adler, psychologist and co-founder of Zanda, said AI is becoming part of the conversation between clients and practitioners and can help people express concerns while also creating expectations that need careful discussion. - Nearly one in five practitioners said they spend nine or more hours each week on clinical documentation. - 47% said documentation requirements have increased over the past three years. - More than 60% of practitioners surveyed said they are already using AI in some form. - Among AI users, 76% use the technology for clinical note drafting. - Among AI users, 72% use it for letters and reports. - 71% of daily AI users said they reduced documentation time by at least 26%. - 23% of occasional users reported the same level of time savings. - 61% of practitioners said AI improves efficiency. - 34% said AI improves patient outcomes. - The report highlights concerns around privacy, informed consent, clinical judgment and whether AI-generated documentation can fully capture practitioner reasoning. - Zanda says the practice management software is used by more than 40,000 users across 23 countries.

Between the lines: - The survey points to a split in how allied health practitioners view AI. - Practitioners appear comfortable using AI to speed up administrative work, but more skeptical about its role in clinical care. - Consumer AI use is already affecting the practitioner-client relationship, even among professionals who may not use AI themselves. - Adler said the priority now is making sure AI supports care responsibly and gives practitioners more time for the work that matters most.

What's next: - Zanda says the report will inform discussion around AI adoption, documentation burden, practitioner attitudes, productivity outcomes and consumer AI use in consultations. - The company says the next challenge is setting boundaries for responsible use so AI improves workflow without undermining trust, privacy or clinical judgment. - Zanda also says its platform will continue serving health practices in the US, UK and Australia, where the company has operations.

The bottom line: - AI is already changing allied health from two directions at once: patients are bringing it into consultations, and practitioners are using it to cut paperwork.