By Matthew Brady 
Generative AI avatars that mimic human personalities have surged in popularity over the past two years. Now, a new use case has emerged: an AI virtual physician that looks and sounds like a patient’s real doctor.
Developed by VIIHEALTH, a healthtech company dedicated to humanising digital solutions for healthcare providers and patients, this new service offers valuable support outside of appointment times and is free for patients to use via web or app (iOS or Android) after being set up by their provider. When a trusted doctor is unavailable, the virtual avatar provides real-time information on symptoms.
Available worldwide, the service enables patients to describe their symptoms verbally. AI transcribes the patient’s spoken words, prompting a virtual physician to respond in real time.
The virtual physician provides ample time for the patient to share their symptoms by speaking into the mic. It then delivers a thoughtful response in the physician’s voice. Throughout the interaction, all spoken words are displayed on the screen to enhance accessibility.
The service also enhances accessibility for multilingual users by allowing the real-time video avatar to seamlessly switch between languages, such as English and Arabic. This feature is particularly useful when the service is viewed collectively by groups, such as families.
A selection of AI-generated, lifelike avatars is available for interacting with the end user, representing assistants, pharmacists, doctors, and nurses.
The humanised experience reinforces trust when the real physician, nurse, or pharmacist might not be available. Research from the Journal of Health Communication shows that people are 60% more likely to retain and act upon health information when it’s delivered by a healthcare professional, particularly one they’ve met or consulted directly.
A September 2023 research article published in BMC Medical Education furthermore showed that virtual health assistants have the potential to significantly improve the quality, efficiency, and cost of healthcare delivery while also increasing patient engagement and providing a better experience for them.
Integrating the app with patients’ health records meanwhile allows for more personalised and effective virtual responses when assessing conditions. The technology additionally adheres to national standards, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of healthcare information.
VIIHEALTH is currently working to facilitate setting up the solution in the UK, working in collaboration to provide access for up to 1 million patients through a dedicated pharmacy app.
