Post

With many Americans turning to large language models for health advice, health systems around the country are eyeing and even rolling out their own branded chatbots in an attempt to harness this already popular tool and steer more people to their services. But the burgeoning trend is raising immediate questions and concerns for the country's complicated and generally underperforming health care system. Executives frame the new offerings as a convenience for patients, meeting people where they are and providing a service with digital equity. They also suggest their chatbots will be a safer alternative to commercial versions people are using now. "We are at an inflection point in healthcare," Allon Bloch, CEO of clinical AI company K Health, said in a statement. "Demand is accelerating, and patients are already using AI to navigate their lives." Read full article Comments

With many Americans turning to large language models for health advice, health systems around the country are eyeing and even rolling out their own branded chatbots in an attempt to harness this already popular tool and steer more people to their services. But the burgeoning trend is raising immediate questions and concerns for the country's complicated and generally underperforming health care system.

Executives frame the new offerings as a convenience for patients, meeting people where they are and providing a service with digital equity. They also suggest their chatbots will be a safer alternative to commercial versions people are using now.

Do you trust AI chatbots for health advice? What about one in your patient portal?

K Health is working with partner Hartford HealthCare, in Connecticut, to roll out its PatientGPT chatbot to tens of thousands of its existing patients.

“The question isn’t whether AI will shape healthcare, it’s about how we do it in a safe, transparent way, inside a health system that connects to your medical records and your care team. PatientGPT represents that turning point,” Bloch said.