Chatbots and related automation can ease staffing shortages, triage patients

Northwell Health, a health system in New York that uses automated chats to help their care teams stay closely connected to patients during their recovery after hospital discharge. It asks questions about Patients' health status and care progression and can also capture biometric readings from devices. It analyzes these responses in real time and recommends what the patient should do next to improve their likelihood of recovery. If the companion determines the patient needs more help, it guides them to the appropriate care venue by notifying the care team to call the patient, escalating the patient to a telehealth visit or scheduling an in-person appointment.