Metlifecare Rolls Out AI Scribe Tool To Support Nurses And Enhance Resident Care

Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 11:54 am
Press Release: Metlifecare

Metlifecare will roll out AI-powered clinical documentation tool, HEIDI, across three more care homes following a successful initial trial that showed improvements in documentation quality, staff efficiency and overall care experience for residents.

The decision follows a four-month trial at Parkside Village Care Home involving 12 registered nurses, where the new technology was well received by both staff and residents.

During the pilot, nurses reported a noticeable reduction in time per shift spent on administrative documentation – allowing more time to focus on resident care, conversations with whānau, and professional development.

HEIDI is an AI-powered ambient scribe that securely transcribes clinician–resident conversations, with resident’s consent, and generates structured clinical notes for review. Clinicians – in this case registered nurses – retain full responsibility for reviewing, editing, and approving all documentation before it is entered into the resident clinical notes system.

Dr Helen Kenealy, Chief Clinical and Risk Officer at Metlifecare, said the trial demonstrated the potential for technology to better support clinical teams in a residential aged care environment.

“What we’ve seen is simple but transformative. By reducing time spent on documentation, our nurses can be more present with residents and focus on delivering high-quality care. That’s a positive outcome for both staff and residents.”

Dr Kenealy emphasises that the technology is designed to support, not replace, clinical staff.

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“This is about backing our teams. We’re providing them with additional tools to support them to do their best work.”

The use of HEIDI supports thorough clinical documentation, strengthening continuity of care and improves shift handovers while meeting clinical governance standards.

A key benefit has been enabling nurses to remain fully engaged during conversations with residents and their families, without needing to divide their attention with manual notetaking.

Nurse Manager at Parkside Village, Joseph Ramos, said the technology has improved day-to-day practice.

“Before, we were splitting our attention between the resident and the paperwork. Now we focus more fully on our conversation with them, knowing the important details are being captured accurately by HEIDI.”

He also noted that HEIDI supports staff confidence in documentation.

“For many of our nurses, it provides greater confidence that their notes are clear, structured, and complete.”

The trial showed strong uptake of HEIDI among staff, with usage growing to full adoption across the Parkside Village nursing team over a few weeks. HEIDI has also been used for recording notes from team meetings and handovers, helping capture key decisions and action points.

Metlifecare will begin a phased HEIDI rollout in the coming weeks as part of its broader strategy to continuously improve care quality, support staff, and deliver better outcomes for residents and their families.

About Metlifecare:

Established in 1984, Metlifecare is New Zealand’s third-largest retirement living and aged care provider to more than 7,000 residents. Operating 37 villages around Aotearoa, and employing more than 2,000 staff, Metlifecare is committed to its vision of providing extraordinary living experiences to older New Zealanders.

Metlifecare

At Metlifecare we create homes and communities

At Metlifecare we create homes and communities. Places of belonging, villages humming with life. With a range of unique villages nationwide (and more in development), plus more than 30 years in the business of looking after Kiwi retirees, we are a well-known and trusted operator, and we take our role seriously. 31269 8387