In today’s healthcare landscape, patient engagement is no longer a passive metric—it’s a critical driver of outcomes, satisfaction, and long-term wellness. Yet despite widespread efforts to improve engagement, many organizations still struggle to connect with patients in a meaningful, scalable way. From my experience as both a private practice physician and healthcare technology executive, I’ve come to understand that the key to sustainable engagement lies in personalization—and that’s where artificial intelligence (AI) is proving to be a game changer.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of leading innovation at the intersection of care delivery and technology. In the early 2000s, I developed Medicfusion EMR, one of the first cloud-based documentation systems designed specifically for chiropractic, orthopedic, and physical medicine practices. Even then, my vision was rooted in improving the provider-patient dynamic—reducing administrative friction so that clinicians could spend more time engaging with patients.
Today, as Chief Clinical Officer of QurHealth, I’ve taken that mission several steps further. Our platform is centered around Sheela, a proprietary conversational AI assistant that enables personalized care delivery across the patient journey. Sheela doesn’t just push reminders or automate messages—she engages patients in real-time, two-way dialogue tailored to their conditions, behavior, and preferences.
For example, when a patient is discharged following surgery or a hospital stay, Sheela initiates follow-up conversations that confirm medication adherence, monitor symptom progression, and guide patients through recovery milestones. These interactions are not static; they are adaptive, meaning Sheela’s responses evolve based on how the patient engages. This level of personalization builds trust, increases health literacy, and improves compliance with care plans.
In our Medicare population deployments, we’ve seen these tools significantly enhance participation in Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs), chronic care management, and preventive screenings. Patients often report feeling more connected to their providers, even though the engagement is being driven by AI. Why? Because the experience feels responsive, intuitive, and relevant—three characteristics often missing from traditional healthcare communication.
Beyond follow-ups, Sheela provides curated educational resources that demystify complex health topics. Whether explaining what an A1C reading means or preparing a patient for a colonoscopy, Sheela speaks in clear, compassionate language that aligns with each person’s literacy level and communication style. This is especially critical in value-based care environments, where empowering patients to be active participants is essential for improving outcomes.
But AI’s value in engagement extends to operational efficiency as well. By offloading routine tasks and pre-screening patients, Sheela frees up clinicians to focus on high-acuity needs. This not only reduces staff burden but also ensures that human touch points—when they do happen—are timely and more impactful.
The future of patient engagement is not about replacing people with machines; it’s about enhancing every interaction through smart, context-aware tools. AI, when implemented strategically and ethically, can act as a powerful bridge between patients and providers—making care more accessible, responsive, and personal.
At QurHealth, we believe that technology should adapt to people—not the other way around. As we continue to expand the capabilities of our platform, our focus remains clear: to deliver AI-driven tools that foster stronger patient relationships, encourage healthier behaviors, and ultimately transform the care experience for all stakeholders.
