The U.S. is grappling with a shortage of primary care physicians, with a projected gap of 68,020 by 2036. This shortage contributes to longer wait times for patients, particularly in underserved rural areas, where many wait weeks or even months to see a doctor. To address this, RhythmX AI is partnering with Presbyterian Healthcare Services to pilot an AI platform designed to support primary care clinicians by streamlining clinical decision-making and reducing administrative and cognitive burdens.
The pilot, set to launch in December across several Presbyterian primary care clinics, leverages RhythmX's AI-powered "copilots" to assist doctors by surfacing relevant patient data, providing specific care recommendations, and integrating seamlessly with existing health record systems. These tools aim to support clinicians in real-time by quickly identifying next-best actions based on advanced predictive algorithms and longitudinal patient data, helping doctors make informed decisions in brief appointment windows. Presbyterian's Chief Medical Information Officer, Lori Walker, sees the platform as a means to address the growing complexity of primary care, especially as patients with multiple health conditions require detailed, time-sensitive attention.
In New Mexico, where Presbyterian operates a mix of urban and rural clinics, the pilot seeks to enhance care access by optimizing patient pathways and referrals and addressing social determinants of health, such as transportation and medication affordability. Both RhythmX and Presbyterian are closely monitoring the pilot’s impact on clinical efficiency and patient outcomes, with the goal of expanding its AI-powered approach across more health systems in the coming years. This partnership represents RhythmX AI’s commitment to refining its technology based on real clinician feedback, aiming to create a scalable solution that can ease physician workloads and improve patient experiences nationwide.