By Crystal Lindell
Utah is piloting a new AI-driven prescription drug service that enables patients to bypass in-person doctor visits when needing refills for chronic conditions. The program, powered by Doctronic, a telehealth service, utilizes artificial intelligence to simulate a healthcare provider by asking patients the standard questions typically posed during refill appointments.
The refill process is designed to take less than five minutes, with Doctronic charging a nominal fee of $4 for the service. “If you’re in the state of Utah and you need, say, a statin renewed because you have high cholesterol and your prescription no longer has available refills, you can talk to our AI,” said Matt Pavelle, Co-CEO of Doctronic, in an interview with ABC4 in Salt Lake City. “It’s going to lead you through the process as a human doctor would, ask all of the right questions, look up all the right interactions, make sure that it’s safe for you…to receive that renewal. It will approve that and send it to a pharmacy in Utah for you.”
The Utah Department of Commerce is monitoring the pilot program to assess various factors, including the timeliness and safety of medication refills, patient access and satisfaction, workflow efficiency, and associated costs. However, there is no indication whether controlled substances, such as opioid pain medications, will be part of the program. A chatbot on Doctronic’s website confirmed that the service does not handle prescriptions for controlled substances, advising patients to consult their in-person healthcare providers instead.
While the potential benefits of such a program are clear, questions remain about its practical execution. Concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of AI systems, especially in the medical field, where errors can have serious consequences. For example, AI models like ChatGPT have been reported to exhibit an error rate of approximately 52%, a statistic that raises alarm for patient safety when it comes to medication decisions. In addition, Doctronic is reportedly covered by a malpractice insurance policy, suggesting acknowledgment of the risks involved in AI-driven healthcare.
AI prescription refills could offer a more affordable and convenient alternative to traditional doctor appointments, yet there is skepticism about the sustainability of such services, particularly if companies choose to raise their fees as demand increases. Critics argue that if it were deemed safe for patients to continue medication without direct human oversight, physicians could easily offer multiple refills without necessitating a visit.
If the need for human doctors diminishes in this context, it raises questions about the necessity of AI systems altogether. Potentially, straightforward medication renewals could simply require patients to complete a check-in questionnaire, with a healthcare provider stepping in only when responses warrant further attention. Such an approach might enhance accuracy but could lack the appeal of the AI angle that captures legislative and public interest.
Moreover, the reduction in patient-to-doctor interactions could result in missed opportunities for identifying other health issues, a critical component of ongoing medical care. This AI-driven model risks diminishing the holistic view physicians often have of their patients’ health.
As Utah’s pilot program progresses, it will be crucial to observe both patient and physician reactions to the Doctronic system. While there is strong support for increasing access and affordability in healthcare, the effectiveness of an AI chatbot in achieving these objectives remains uncertain. The outcome of this initiative may reshape how prescriptions are managed in the future and influence broader discussions about the role of technology in healthcare delivery.
For further information, visit Doctronic’s official website, and learn more about telehealth services at HealthCare.gov.
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