As artificial intelligence sources of medical information increase, Hartford Healthcare and K Health announced Thursday the launch of a new tool that will serve as a “24/7 AI bridge” to medical teams.
PatientGPT is designed to use patient data through secure access to medical records and “provide personalized education and guidance” to answer health questions, the statement said.
“We are at a tipping point in healthcare,” K Health CEO and co-founder Aron Block said in the announcement. “Demand is accelerating, and patients are already using AI to navigate their lives. The question is not whether AI will shape healthcare; it’s how to do it securely and transparently within a healthcare system that connects to the medical record and the healthcare team. PatientGPT represents that tipping point.”
According to a recent report from Rock Health, 32% of respondents reported using AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini to find health information. Similarly, KFF found that 32% of adults nationwide use such tools for health-related questions. 29% of adults seek physical health information and 16% seek mental health information.
K Health researchers have built a system that “understands the language of medicine” and helps patients ask clear questions, provide relevant context, and provide access to immediate treatment when needed, the statement said.
PatientGPT allows users to access test results in plain language, ask health-related questions, identify potential drug interactions, schedule an in-person visit, and more.
Clinicians can also see a chat summary within the platform.
A beta version of the tool is currently being rolled out to a limited number of patients in Connecticut who are 18 and older, Hartford Healthcare told Fierce Healthcare in an email. The system says PatientGPT does not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or operate autonomously.
Hartford HealthCare President and CEO Jeff Flax said in the announcement that the system is “on a mission to be the most consumer-centric health system” in the nation.
“Much of health care has traditionally been organized around health care providers, but it’s clear that we have to meet people where they are and where they want to be met,” Flax says. “With PatientGPT, we are introducing new tools to support your health and protect the relationships at the heart of your care, while providing access to your care team 24/7.”
