Hippocratic AI Enhances Patient Engagement
University Hospitals, an integrated hospital network, has announced a collaboration with Hippocratic AI, a company specializing in safety-focused large language models (LLMs) for healthcare. The partnership aims to integrate Hippocratic AI’s conversational agents into clinical workflows, enhancing patient engagement across the University Hospitals system.
The initial focus of this collaboration has been to deploy Hippocratic AI’s voice-based agents for various non-diagnostic use cases, particularly to address pharmacy-related patient needs. Early trials have shown encouraging results, prompting both organizations to consider expanding these capabilities further.
As a result of the positive outcomes from initial efforts, there are plans to broaden the application of these AI agents to include areas such as preventative screening calls, patient education, and support for appointment management. Hippocratic AI emphasizes that its agents are designed to provide real-time, conversational support, which keeps patients informed, adherent, and connected to their healthcare providers.
“Our agents are designed to be empathetic, safe and effective extensions of the care team, delivering personalized support at scale when and where patients need it most,” stated Munjal Shah, CEO and cofounder of Hippocratic AI. This perspective highlights a shift towards integration of advanced technologies into patient care that prioritizes empathy and patient-centered service.
Dr. Paul Hinchey, COO at University Hospitals, resonated with this vision, noting that both organizations share similar values. He commented, “Together, we are reaching patients between visits, closing communication gaps and helping clinicians spend more time practicing at the top of their license.” This collaboration illustrates a significant step towards enhancing clinician efficiency and patient satisfaction through technology.
The Broader Context of AI in Healthcare
The collaboration between University Hospitals and Hippocratic AI is part of a larger trend in healthcare where technology is increasingly viewed as a solution to workforce shortages and operational inefficiencies. Notably, in July, KPMG partnered with Hippocratic AI to utilize its agents to address these global challenges. Hippocratic AI’s innovative Polaris Constellation architecture has emerged to support a range of healthcare workflows, effectively managing everything from patient intake to post-care follow-ups.
Moreover, Hippocratic AI’s recent milestones, such as participating in the Health Tech Ecosystem and achieving HITRUST e1 Certification, reflect a commitment to security and compliance. This certification validates their comprehensive agentic platform and showcases how the company is striving for industry leadership in safe and effective healthcare solutions.
The expansion into the Japanese market earlier this year with the launch of a Japanese-language genAI healthcare agent exemplifies Hippocratic AI’s global ambitions. This agent focuses on non-diagnostic clinical tasks aimed at reducing the burden on clinicians, thus improving workflow efficiency and patient engagement.
Funding and Future Prospects
Hippocratic AI’s recent funding rounds also signal strong financial backing and growth potential. In January, the company successfully raised $141 million in a Series B round, enhancing its valuation to $1.64 billion. This funding allows for the development of tools like the Healthcare AI Agent App Store, enabling clinicians to co-develop AI agents tailored to specific patient conditions.
The innovative approach of allowing clinicians to contribute directly to the creation of AI solutions is noteworthy. It affirms the belief that those closest to patient care should have a hand in shaping technological advancements aimed at improving healthcare delivery.
Overall, the collaboration between University Hospitals and Hippocratic AI represents an ambitious move toward integrating generative AI into patient care, highlighting a future where technology and healthcare work hand in hand to enhance patient outcomes and clinician effectiveness.