The purpose of this article is to provide some FAQs for Rula's new assisted note-taking tool, Recap, which is an AI-based tool.
Clinical Autonomy & Judgment
Will Rula Recap replace my clinical voice or judgment?
Rula’s notetaking tool is a drafting assistant, not a decision-maker. Your clinical voice, insights, and tone remain central. Our notetaking tool relies on your ability to conduct evidence-based care practices in session and will use this information to generate a note.
Who is ultimately responsible for the content of the note?
You are. The notetaking tool supports you, but you retain full responsibility for clinical accuracy, ethics, and quality.
How customizable is the AI-generated content?
Extremely! You can edit, expand, or remove anything- and this is encouraged, as you are solely responsible for the final edit of the note.
Can I choose not to use the Rula Recap draft if I prefer to write my own?
Absolutely- your workflow, your choice. The tool is here to help, not to replace.
Accuracy & Quality
How accurate are the AI-generated notes?
The accuracy depends on the quality of the input, including audio quality and how AI understands which clinical interventions you are using in session. Think of it as a strong starting draft- your edits make it complete.
What happens if the Rula Recap makes an error?
While rare, this is a reason why we strongly recommend reviewing the note prior to signing off.
How should I review and edit the generated drafts?
We recommend using your clinical lens to ensure accuracy, tone, and alignment with the session. The more you use it, the faster and easier this becomes. Rula also has several help center articles that outline documentation requirements- we recommend using these to ensure your documentation meets these standards.
- Progress Note Documentation Standards
- Initial Assessment Documentation Standards
- Sample Documentation Library
Who is ultimately responsible for the content of the note submitted using this tool?
It is the provider's responsibility to review the generated note in its entirety to ensure clinical accuracy.
Talking to Clients About Rula Recap
How should I explain Recap to clients if they ask?
You can say something like, “I use a secure tool to help draft my notes after our session. It captures what was discussed in the session and deletes the transcript shortly after the note is submitted. This helps me stay focused during our time together and ensures that my documentation is thorough.”
What if a client has concerns about AI being involved?
Let them know their privacy and care are top priorities. You might say: “Only I review and finalize the notes. The AI helps me write more efficiently so I can stay fully present with you.”
Can I opt not to use Rula Recap for certain clients or sessions?
Yes. You have full discretion over when and how to use the tool based on your clinical judgment and the therapeutic relationship.
How might using Rula Recap support rapport-building with clients?
By reducing time spent on notes, you may have more mental space and flexibility between sessions, making it easier to focus on your client’s story, not your documentation.
Is it appropriate to be transparent about using Rula Recap with clients?
Transparency fosters trust. Framing it as a tool that helps you do your best work can reinforce your professionalism and care. Patients will also see a message in the Zoom waiting room letting them know you may utilize this tool, suggesting they speak with you if they have concerns.
Ethical & Professional Considerations
Is using AI for notes ethical in therapy?
When used responsibly as a support tool- and with appropriate review- it is aligned with ethical standards across many different codes of ethics. For example, The APA Code of Ethics supports the use of tools that enhance care, as long as therapists ensure accuracy, confidentiality, and informed consent (APA, 2017). AI notetaking is an assistive technology- like a spell-checker or template- not a decision-maker. With your clinical judgment guiding its use, it can ethically support more efficient and accurate documentation (Zur Institute, 2023; Benrimoh et al., 2023).
Does this align with board or licensure documentation standards?
Yes. The tool supports you in meeting requirements without compromising professional integrity.
What if the AI introduces bias or inaccuracies?
That’s where your clinical oversight matters most. Your review ensures safe, fair, and high-quality documentation.
How will this tool evolve to support different therapy modalities and patient populations?
We’re actively gathering feedback to ensure it meets the needs of diverse therapeutic approaches and patient communities.
Impact on Clinical Practice & Growth
Will this help reduce my documentation burden?
Yes! That’s one of the reasons why Rula is most excited to share this tool with our providers! Most therapists find the tool helps them document more efficiently and reclaim valuable time.
Can Rula Recap support improve my clinical outcomes?
By reducing administrative load, it can help you focus more fully on your clinical work and remain present with your client in session.
How does this tool align with best practices in Measurement-Informed Care?
It supports clearer, more consistent documentation, making it easier to track and communicate client progress.
Can it help me write more focused or structured notes?
Yes. Many therapists say it helps them distill key clinical information more effectively.
Security & Compliance
Is Rula Recap HIPAA-compliant?
Yes. The tool meets full HIPAA compliance standards. We've partnered with a vendor who meets Rula’s rigorous healthcare data security protocol standards to ensure your clients' confidentiality is always protected.
How is client privacy protected?
All AI processing takes place within secure, HIPAA-compliant systems. No protected health information is stored outside of these environments. Rula uses information collected through its platform to continuously improve the client and provider experience. Any data retained is fully anonymized to protect client & provider privacy. This ensures that no information from the Rula Recap tool can ever be traced back to a client or provider.
Can I use an alternative note-taking tool, even though Rula Recap is available?
Recap is clinically validated, HIPAA-compliant, and the only note-taking tool that is fully integrated with our systems. Now that Rula has its own assisted note-taking tool, we are asking all providers who wish to use an assisted note-taking tool to only use Rula Recap for their Rula clients/sessions. Recap is strongly recommended because it’s been built with Rula providers, for Rula providers — it ensures accuracy, consistency, and quality in ways where external tools may have limitations.
Workflow & Functionality
How do I use the Rula Recap tool?
You can learn more about utilizing the tool in this therapist help center article.
Can I use this tool with individual therapy clients? Couples/partners therapy? Family therapy?
At this time, the tool supports use in individual therapy cases. We are working to expand this 2+ session attendee experiences, and look forward to this being available as we continue to improve the tool!
Can I use this tool for in-person appointments?
Currently, Rula Recap is only available for telehealth appointments, not in-person appointments.
Can I use it for all note types (intake and progress)?
Yes, all Rula note types are supported, including Initial Assessment and Progress (DAP) Notes.
How long does it take to generate a note?
Typically, a couple of minutes. It’s designed to accelerate, not slow, your workflow.
If your sessions are back-to-back and you don’t have enough time to complete documentation after the session, feel free to close the window and open up a new session while the note draft is generating. The notetaking tool will save the generated note draft and can be used later when you have to complete documentation. You will still need to return to the draft note to make any necessary edits and sign the note.
Is there a way to dictate my progress note and have it automatically transcribed into the note format, without recording the session?
At this time, Recap does not support live dictation as a method for generating notes. The current system is designed to generate progress notes based on recorded session content and cannot fill out notes from therapist speech alone.
We understand that many providers prefer dictation for efficiency and flexibility, and we’re actively exploring ways to expand our tools to meet different workflow preferences. In the meantime, you’re welcome to use your own dictation software to support your documentation process.
Who does Rula partner with to power Rula Recap?
Recap is built and operated by Rula. We partner with a third-party platform Blueprint to supply the underlying AI engine, powering our note-taking experience tailored to the needs of Rula providers. Blueprint is a leader in this space and shares our commitment to safety, security, privacy, and ethical use.
Does Rula Recap support other languages besides English?
Yes! Rula Recap supports other languages outside of English (38 languages). The session will take place in the supported language, and the note will be generated in English within the Rula provider portal. Other supported languages include: Multilingual (Spanish + English), Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified), Chinese (Mandarin, Traditional), Chinese (Cantonese, Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, Flemish, French, German, German (Switzerland), Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese.
Choice & Feedback
Do I have to use Rula Recap, or can I opt out?
Rula Recap is an optional tool, you are never required to use this in your practice. There is no official "opt-out" process. You can simply follow your typical routines without utilizing this feature within the portal.
Will my feedback actually influence improvements?
Absolutely! This is a living tool, shaped directly by therapist experience and insight.
How will changes or upgrades to the tool be communicated?
You’ll receive updates through email and the community platform. We’re committed to transparency.
What kind of support is available if I run into issues?
We’re here to help. Reach out anytime through Rula Support.
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