The best AI scribe for an orthopedic surgeon is the one that gets laterality, range of motion, imaging, and op note details right in your EHR, then codes the visit correctly. For independent and group orthopedic practices on the EHRs private practices use most, Mira Scribe is built for exactly that. Health systems on Epic often evaluate Abridge or Dragon Copilot, and ModMed practices should also look at ModMed’s native scribe. The right choice depends on your EHR, your volume, and whether you need coding alongside the note.
This guide covers what orthopedic notes need, how the main options compare based on publicly available information as of October 2026, and how to test them on your own cases.
What Makes an AI Scribe Good for Orthopedics
Orthopedic notes are dense and structured. A good orthopedic AI scribe should handle:
- Laterality. Left, right, or bilateral, carried into modifiers like -LT, -RT, and -50.
- Exam findings. ROM in degrees, strength grades, and special tests (Lachman, McMurray, Spurling) in the exam section.
- Imaging. Radiograph and MRI reads, often dictated live, placed as structured results.
- Operative notes. Approach, implants, sizes, and findings.
- Global periods. Post-op visits recognized inside the global so they are not billed as new E/M.
- Coding. Correct CPT, ICD-10, and modifiers. A visit with an injection (CPT 20610) is different from a visit alone.
A recent narrative review of AI scribes in orthopaedic surgery reached a similar conclusion: the tools are promising, but platforms vary in orthopaedic-specific customization, and specialty-specific validation matters.
Best AI Scribes for Orthopedics: Comparison Table
Competitor details are based on publicly available information as of October 2026. Confirm specifics with each vendor.
| Scribe | Orthopedic focus | EHRs named publicly | Coding | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mira Scribe | Built on orthopedic encounters; hand, spine, sports, trauma, joints, pediatric templates | Native: Epic, athenahealth, ModMed, eClinicalWorks, NextGen, DrChrono (new EHRs in 1 to 4 weeks) | CPT bundling, modifiers, E/M, ICD-10, MIPS checklist | Independent and group ortho practices |
| DeepScribe | Describes orthopedic-specific models | athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, ModMed, NextGen | Flags ICD-10, HCC, and E/M opportunities | Specialty practices on those EHRs |
| Abridge | Multi-specialty, health system focus | Confirm with vendor | Revenue cycle product; “coding specificity” | Health systems |
| Suki | 100+ specialties | Epic, Oracle Health, athenahealth, MEDITECH | Coding described generally | Multi-specialty groups and systems |
| Dragon Copilot | Specialty-specific notes across care teams | Epic, athenahealth, MEDITECH listed as partners | Coding suggestions | Organizations already on Dragon |
| ModMed Scribe | Built into EMA; ModMed says developed with on-staff orthopedists | ModMed EMA | Suggests billing codes and modifiers | ModMed practices wanting a native option |
1. Mira Scribe: Best for Orthopedic Practices That Want Notes and Coding Together
Mira Scribe is built only for orthopedics. It listens to the visit, drafts the note, and codes it in one pipeline.
- Orthopedic depth. Subspecialty templates for hand, spine, sports medicine, trauma, total joints, and pediatrics, configured before go-live.
- Laterality and op notes. 100% laterality capture on operative notes, with implants and approach captured from dictation.
- Coding engine. CPT bundling, modifier assignment, E/M leveling, and ICD-10 mapping, at 97% first-pass accuracy.
- Beyond the note. Drafts imaging, lab, DME, and prescription orders, referral and work-status letters, and follow-up instructions, with a coding review and MIPS checklist.
- EHR fit. Integrates natively with Epic, athenahealth, ModMed, eClinicalWorks, NextGen, and DrChrono, and builds new EHR integrations in one to four weeks. Mobile app on iOS and Android, a dictation mode for op notes, and Mira Dictate, a desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Speed. About 12 minutes saved per note; live in 48 hours.
Consider another option if you are a large multi-specialty health system standardizing one scribe across every department.
2. DeepScribe
DeepScribe publishes an orthopedics guide describing orthopedic-specific models, knowledge of MSK anatomy and imaging, and bidirectional integration with athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, ModMed, and NextGen. It says it flags ICD-10, HCC, and E/M documentation opportunities.
Good fit for specialty practices on those EHRs that want an ambient scribe with coding flags. Ask how it handles procedure codes and modifiers.
3. Abridge
Abridge describes itself as trusted by 300+ health systems, with products for clinician documentation, revenue cycle, and nursing. Its public materials focus on large organizations.
Good fit for health systems running enterprise procurement across many specialties. For a deeper look, see Mira Scribe vs Abridge.
4. Suki
Suki offers ambient documentation and dictation across 100+ specialties, with integrations to Epic, Oracle Health, athenahealth, and MEDITECH, on desktop, iOS, and Android.
Good fit for multi-specialty groups on those EHRs that want ambient notes and dictation from one vendor. See Mira Scribe vs Suki.
5. Dragon Copilot
Microsoft positions Dragon Copilot as an AI clinical assistant and the next step for Dragon Medical One users. It offers ambient capture, specialty-specific notes, coding suggestions, and referral letters, with web, mobile, desktop, and embedded EHR options.
Good fit for organizations already invested in Dragon. See Dragon Copilot alternatives for orthopedics.
6. ModMed Scribe
ModMed’s native scribe is built into EMA. ModMed says it was developed with its on-staff orthopedists, suggests visit notes and downstream tasks such as PT orders, and auto-suggests billing codes and modifiers for review.
Good fit for ModMed practices that want a native option. Compare it on the same test cases as any standalone scribe.
How to Test an Orthopedic AI Scribe
Run every vendor through the same four cases:
| Test case | What to check |
|---|---|
| New knee visit with X-ray and injection | Side, ROM, imaging read, CPT 20610 with -25 where supported |
| Post-op visit after a total knee (27447) | Global period recognized |
| Arthroscopy op note (29881) | Laterality, findings, implants, modifier |
| Primary knee OA follow-up | Specific diagnosis (M17.11), not unspecified |
Check the note in your EHR, not in the vendor’s demo screen. Then count the edits.
Free Orthopedic Coding Reference
Use our free library to check any code a scribe suggests: 2,100+ orthopedic CPT codes, 1,322 musculoskeletal ICD-10 codes, and modifier guidance.
Next Step
If you run an orthopedic practice and want documentation and coding from one system, book a Mira demo and bring one real note. We will run it through Mira Scribe with you.