Discovery gets AI app

PROVIDES ANSWERS AND VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS. Members shouldn’t use virtual consultations to replace faceto-face visits where the latter might be clinically necessary – Dr Jonathan Broomberg.

Discovery Health members can now access a library of healthcare information and virtual consultations via new app, DrConnect. The app, which uses technology, digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI), lets members connect and engage with doctors in SA as well as from around the world. Into its second week, 200 South African doctors and 7 000 South African members were already using the platform.

After pinpointing your condition from a list of options, the app “curates a series of answers from a number of doctors. Answers are tailor-made to suit client and patient needs,” says Discovery Health CEO Dr Jonathan Broomberg. “The answers are coming from trained doctors, a very large number of them, and doctors are curating by commenting and approving some answers more than others. It’s a curated library of answers that are building up over time.”

The app was developed in partnership with HealthTap, a Silicon Valley-based health platform company. According to Broomberg, the platform’s about eight years’ old now, with about 105 000 doctors signed up from around the world. He added there are around 80 million users globally.

“We’ve licensed their platform … and we’ve integrated it into our system to build the DrConnect app.”

The app has four distinguished levels, Broomberg explained.

First, a member can search for answers related to their condition from a collection of almost 5.5 billion previously curated and developed answers. If not adequately satisfied with the answer, they can move onto step two. Here they submit a question and a medical practitioner from around the world will provide a professional, accurate and credible response.

The third step involves AI technology. One can submit their symptoms into an AI checker, which will help narrow down and determine a condition or diagnosis by virtue of questions and evaluation.

“(The AI bot) doesn’t give you medical advice, because only a doctor can do that, but it gives you guidance as to whether this is something you should see to very urgently or whether you should wait.”

If a client’s still not satisfied, an option is available to connect with a registered doctor who the patient already has personal contact with, for a virtual consultation. This can either be via text, call or video.

A virtual consultation costs R267, which is paid from a member’s applicable day-to-day benefits based on their plan type. Broomberg said this is a much cheaper option compared with a formal GP office consultation of about R406.

The app serves as a form of convenience and guidance, not to replace medical consultation and examinations. It works as supplementary for clients to confirm symptoms and get guidance on whether a condition’s serious.

“… If you do actually have a particular problem, then you need to see a doctor,” said Broomberg.

The app is free on both Android and iPhone phones and available to Discovery Health members.