WellSpan Health inked an expanded multi-year partnership with artificial intelligence company Hippocratic AI, which expands AI-powered capacity across the network.
Through the update, Hippocratic AI’s generative AI agent—Ana—will expand from handling inbound calls and primary care appointment scheduling to post-discharge follow-up and chronic disease check-ins.
Initial workflows will focus on closing care gaps through outreach to patients with missed imaging appointments, executives say. Every new use of the AI agent will follow governance, safety and implementation structures in coordination with WellSpan teams.
WellSpan Health CEO Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D, said in a statement the future of the industry will “be shaped by the organizations that build the culture, governance and clinical capabilities” to utilize AI responsibly at scale.
“At WellSpan, we've been intentional about creating this foundation, so innovation advances safely, strengthens clinical excellence and earns trust,” Gapstur said. “Our expanded partnership with Hippocratic AI is an investment in the future of care — one that expands access, supports our care teams and creates a more personalized experience for every patient we serve.”
Alongside the partnership expansion announcement, the two organizations launched a formal co-development program to build “the next generation” of clinical AI agents at WellSpan’s York, Pa.-based campus.
The program will trial voice AI tools for triage tasks and launch the new Hippocratic AI Orchestrator, which aims to help clinical teams navigate and coordinate patient care plans.
The partnership was first announced in September 2024.
“WellSpan was the first health system to partner with us on a vision for transforming patient care, and together we proved what responsible, generative AI can do at scale,” said Munjal Shah, Hippocratic AI co-founder and CEO, in a statement. “The next phase is about abundance: reimagining what patient care can be when it's no longer constrained by scarcity—designed together, on the same campus, under the same standard of safety.”
Ana currently manages more than 160,000 patient calls monthly, equating to more than 7,000 hours of conversations, executives say. It can also be accessed on WellSpan’s website.
Last month, the community health system entered a seven-year strategic alliance with Philips to co-develop new AI and tech tools—as well as expand advanced imaging technology network-wide.
The partnership aims to expand access to care, including in rural areas, while also reducing pressure on clinical teams through AI and other digital solutions.