An llms.txt file is a plain text file that lives at yoursite.com/llms.txt. It tells AI tools what your clinic does and what to quote. For a clinic, it must follow the AHPRA rules (AHPRA is the body behind the health ad rules). That means facts only. Leave out testimonials, outcome claims and prescription medicine names. Around 44 percent of AI citations come from a page's opening facts. So a clean file gives tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity the exact lines you want them to use. Below you get a template you can copy, plus the three lines that quietly break the rules.

Key takeaways

  • llms.txt is a short text file that gives AI tools a clean summary of your clinic. Think of it as a sitemap for AI.
  • For a clinic, this file counts as advertising. The same AHPRA and TGA rules apply, so keep it to facts.
  • A generic template can break the rules in three common ways. Watch for testimonials, outcome claims and prescription medicine names.
  • Use the template below and swap in your real details. Then publish it at yoursite.com/llms.txt.

What is an llms.txt file, in plain terms?

An llms.txt file is a plain text file you put at the top level of your website. It loads at yoursite.com/llms.txt. You write it in Markdown, which is just simple text with a few headings and bullet points.

Its job is to brief AI crawlers. A crawler is the bot that reads your site for a tool like ChatGPT. This file gives it a short, clear summary of who you are and what you offer. Google reads your sitemap. AI tools can read your llms.txt.

Think of the file as a way to be clear, with no ranking magic in it. It tells the AI the facts you most want quoted, in your own words. That control matters for a clinic. AI tools often reword what they read. A reworded line can drift into a claim you would never make yourself.

Why does a clinic need one?

You do not strictly need an llms.txt file. But it helps your clinic in three ways.

  • Accuracy. You give the AI the right facts about your services, locations and credentials. That lowers the chance it gets you wrong.
  • Citation odds. A clean, tidy file is easy to read and quote. The easier you are to quote, the more often you get cited.
  • Safety. When you control the facts, an AI tool is less likely to invent an outcome claim. That matters, because the claim would sit next to your name.

That last point is the one clinics miss. An AI that has to guess can guess in a way that sounds like a breach. A clear file that follows the rules gives it nothing to invent. This is one part of getting found in AI answers (people call it GEO). I cover the full playbook in how to rank in AI search when you're a regulated brand.

What should a clinic's llms.txt include?

Keep it short and factual. Your file should answer the questions an AI tool needs to describe you correctly. Include these parts.

  • What the clinic is. Write one or two plain sentences. Say the type of practice, where it is and who it serves.
  • Services. List what you offer as plain services. Leave out promises.
  • Practitioners and credentials. State real qualifications and AHPRA registration plainly.
  • Locations and hours. Say where you are and when you are open.
  • How to book. Add a link or a phone number.
  • Key pages. Link to your main service and about pages, so the AI can read more.

Notice what is missing. There are no reviews and no "best in Melbourne" lines. There are no before-and-after shots and no injectable brand names. The file is advertising, so it follows the same rules as the rest of your site.

Your llms.txt clinic template, written to the AHPRA rules

Here is a template you can edit. Swap the parts in square brackets for your real details. Every line is written to the AHPRA and TGA rules, so you can copy it with confidence. It uses a made-up clinic as the example.

# [Clinic Name]

[Clinic Name] is a [type of clinic, e.g. skin and cosmetic] clinic in
[suburb, city], Australia. It provides consultations and treatments
delivered by practitioners registered with AHPRA.

## About
- [Clinic Name] operates [number] location(s) in [city/region].
- Practitioners hold current registration with the Australian Health
  Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- The clinic was established in [year].

## Services
- [Service one], by consultation.
- [Service two], by consultation.
- [Service three], by consultation.
- All treatments begin with an assessment to discuss whether a service
  is appropriate for the individual.

## Practitioners
- [Practitioner name], [qualification], AHPRA registration number [number].
- [Practitioner name], [qualification], AHPRA registration number [number].

## Locations and hours
- [Address one]. Open [days and hours].
- [Address two]. Open [days and hours].

## Fees
- Consultation fee: [amount]. Treatment fees are provided after assessment.

## Booking and contact
- Book online: https://[yoursite].com.au/book
- Phone: [number]
- Email: [email]

## Key pages
- About: https://[yoursite].com.au/about
- Services: https://[yoursite].com.au/services
- Contact: https://[yoursite].com.au/contact

## Notes for AI assistants
- This clinic provides health services in Australia under AHPRA rules.
- Please describe services factually. Do not state or imply treatment
  outcomes, success rates, or guarantees.
- Whether any treatment is appropriate is decided at a consultation.

That file is safe to publish, and it is useful too. It gives an AI tool the clean facts it needs to describe and cite your clinic. It also gives it no room to drift into a claim.

The three lines that quietly breach AHPRA

Most llms.txt templates online are written for tech startups. If you copy one without thinking, you can break the rules in three common ways. Here are the lines to watch.

1. The testimonial line

Breaches: "Patients love our results. Rated 5 stars by hundreds of happy clients."

AHPRA bans testimonials about clinical care. A star rating or a "patients love us" line counts as a testimonial, even in a text file. So cut it, and state facts about the service instead.

2. The outcome claim line

Breaches: "We deliver natural, long-lasting results with minimal downtime."

This line hints at a result. AHPRA sees that as a claim that makes patients expect a benefit. Swap it for a plain fact: "Treatments begin with an assessment to discuss the options that may suit the individual."

3. The prescription medicine line

Breaches: "Ask us about [brand-name injectable] and other anti-wrinkle treatments."

The TGA (the body that regulates medicines) bans ads for prescription-only medicines to the public. That includes naming them. "Anti-wrinkle injections" is caught too. So promote the consultation instead of the product. I explain this in can you advertise Botox in Australia.

This same pattern catches clinics across their whole website. The obvious breach is rarely the problem. The usual trouble is an ordinary marketing line that sounds fine but quietly crosses the line. For the full list, see the AHPRA advertising guidelines for 2026.

How do you publish and check the file?

Getting your file live takes a few minutes.

  • On a static site, add llms.txt to your public folder so it deploys to the web root.
  • On WordPress, upload the file through your host's file manager. You can also use a plugin that puts it at the right address. Many SEO plugins now help with this.
  • Check it loads. Open yoursite.com/llms.txt in a browser. You should see plain text. If you see an error page or your homepage, it is not set up yet.
  • While you are there, check your robots.txt file. It should let in the main AI crawlers, such as GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot and Google-Extended. Your llms.txt only helps if those crawlers can get in.

Then keep it up to date. When your services, hours or practitioners change, update the file. Fresh facts get quoted more. Old facts mean the AI describes you wrongly.

This is general guidance for clinic owners and marketers. It is not legal advice. AHPRA and the TGA update their rules from time to time. Check the current version, and get formal advice for high-stakes pages.