By MICHAEL MILLENSON
The Surge of AI in Healthcare: insights from Epic’s User Group Meeting
A recent report by Rock Health has shed light on the excitement surrounding artificial intelligence at this year’s epic Users Group Meeting. The catchy title, “Epic goes APE (Art, Penny and emmie),” cleverly alludes to three newly launched AI chatbots designed for clinicians, revenue cycle managers, and patients alike.
The Functionality of Emmie in Enhancing Patient Experience
The chatbot Emmie is crafted to improve patient interactions—more details on that shortly—but its core purpose is B2B. it aims to fulfill the needs of hospitals and medical organizations that have significantly contributed to Epic’s impressive valuation of around $5 billion.
An Examination of Patient Autonomy in Healthcare Technology
It’s essential to recognise that Emmie does not inherently foster patient autonomy. Its main role is to assist Epic’s clientele (health systems and physician practices) in providing enhanced services provided that patients remain within the healthcare framework.
This context is vital; while it can be perceived as #PatientsUseAI, this relationship resembles how Spotify utilizes algorithms for personalized music recommendations. Just like Spotify won’t suggest Apple Music for a better playlist based on your listening habits—even if you’re enjoying a particular genre—Emmie’s focus remains confined within its own ecosystem.
“Leveraging their chart data and connected devices, Emmie aids patients between visits by clarifying test results or guiding them through health-related discussions.” On the clinician side,Art gathers data from Emmie before appointments commence—aiming to reduce administrative burdens while equipping doctors with valuable insights.”
- March 2026 will introduce proactive outreach capabilities;
- November 2026 will unveil active engagement features;
- Additions screenings are expected sometime during 2026 without a specified month.
However , access should be granted directly so patients can evaluate different hospitals’ performance independently .
Diving deeper into Cosmos developments announced during the meeting ,CEO Judy Faulkner expressed confidence about predicting future outcomes effectively.For further exploration into Cosmos functionalities I recommend checking out insights shared by veteran medical informatics expert Mark Braustein.
< em >Michael L Millenson serves as president at Health Quality Advisors & contributes regularly here.< / em >