In numerous regions across the United States, many individuals are finding it increasingly difficult to access primary care. Around 75 million people currently reside in areas where primary care services are in short supply. This lack of access often leads to long wait times, and sometimes, patients struggle to find a provider at all.
Rajesh Patel, who serves as the vice president of digital patient experience at Mass General Brigham, describes the situation as being on “red alert” for quite some time. Unfortunately, the problem is expected to worsen; by 2037, the country could face a shortage of about 87,000 primary care physicians, as projected by federal estimates.
To address this growing issue, K Health, a clinical artificial intelligence company, believes it has a promising solution. Over the past two years, K Health has collaborated with five significant healthcare systems, including Cedars-Sinai, Mayo Clinic, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hartford HealthCare, and Mass General Brigham. Together, they have developed virtual primary care platforms that utilize artificial intelligence and are available around the clock. Today, K Health announced an additional partnership with Northwell Health, New York’s largest health system, which has begun implementing this platform.
These efforts aim to improve access to primary care and relieve some of the burdens faced by patients and providers alike.
