Use Zoom's AI to Summarize Telehealth Sessions

What This Does

Zoom's AI Companion automatically generates a written summary of your telehealth session — capturing the main topics discussed, key moments, and action items — so you have a head start on your progress note instead of writing it entirely from memory.

Before You Start

• You have Zoom open and are running telehealth sessions through it
• Your Zoom account plan includes AI Companion (included in paid plans; check Settings → AI Companion)
• You have your client's consent to use AI features that process session audio (review your facility's policy)
• Client has been informed per your telehealth informed consent process

Steps

1. Enable AI Companion before starting your session

1. Open Zoom on your computer
2. Click your account icon (top right) → Settings
3. In the left menu, click AI Companion
4. Toggle on Meeting Summary if it isn't already enabled
5. Optionally turn on Smart Recording if you record sessions

What you should see: A blue AI Companion icon should appear in your Zoom toolbar during meetings.

2. Start your telehealth session

1. Start the meeting as usual
2. During the session, click the AI Companion button (star/sparkle icon in the meeting toolbar)
3. Select Start Meeting Summary
4. A banner confirms that AI Companion is now capturing the meeting

What you should see: A small "AI Companion is summarizing this meeting" indicator appears.

3. End the session — summary arrives automatically

1. End the meeting normally
2. Within 2–5 minutes, Zoom emails you a meeting summary
3. Open the email or find it in Zoom → Reports → AI Companion

What you should see: A structured summary with Main Points, Action Items, and a general outline of what was discussed.

4. Use the summary as your note-writing starting point

1. Open your EHR or a blank document
2. Review Zoom's summary — it won't be a progress note, but it captures the session arc
3. Use the key topics it identified to fill in your DAP, SOAP, or BIRP note structure much faster than recalling from memory

Real Example

Scenario: You run a 50-minute individual telehealth session with a client working on opioid use disorder and co-occurring anxiety.

What Zoom captures: Topics covered (coping strategies, upcoming stressor at work, medication compliance), your action item (follow up on referral to psychiatrist), and the general flow of the conversation.

What you get: A 5–8 line summary you use as a memory aid, cutting your note-writing time in half by eliminating the "what did we even cover?" mental reconstruction.

Tips

• Zoom AI Companion does not transcribe verbatim — it summarizes themes, so sensitive clinical details are less likely to appear in the summary
• Still review your facility's telehealth AI policy and update your informed consent if needed before using this feature
• The summary works best as a recall aid — you still write the clinical progress note yourself using your professional judgment

Tool interfaces change — if a button has moved, look for similar AI/magic/smart options in the same menu area.