OpenAI has stated that ChatGPT Health, which has been launched in the US, UK, and some European countries, will assist with tasks ranging from understanding lab reports to health tracking.
What you should know
OpenAI has launched a ‘Healthcare’ feature within ChatGPT to provide personalized health-related services and information. Named ‘ChatGPT Health’, the service is a technology specifically designed for the healthcare sector, OpenAI said in a blog post. It is currently available in the US, UK, Switzerland and some European countries.
OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT Health, designed for hospitals, doctors and patients, has been used by major hospitals in the US such as Mayo Clinic, Advent Health and UCSF. It can be connected to the hospital's medical record system (EHR) and then it can analyze the patient's old lab reports, medication details and health history.
It is claimed that it will help doctors write patient 'discharge summaries', understand complex reports and reduce administrative workload. OpenAI has also said that patients can use it to understand the meaning of their lab reports, prepare a list of questions to ask the doctor and track their health condition. It is said that it can be connected to apps such as Apple Health and My Fitness Pal to get personalized advice on diet and exercise.
The company has clarified that the health details shared by users will not be used to train any models. In addition, the company has assured that there will be a separate space called ‘Health’ within ChatGPT and that the information shared in it will not be mixed with other chats. OpenAI has mentioned that this technology has been developed in accordance with the standards of the US Health Privacy Act (HIPAA). According to the company, more than 230 million users ask health-related questions on ChatGPT every week. OpenAI has made it clear that the purpose of the ChatGPT Health feature is not to diagnose or treat diseases, but to support healthcare. ‘This feature is designed to support healthcare, not to replace healthcare workers,’ the company says. ‘It helps solve common health questions that arise in your daily life, not just when you are sick, and to understand changes or patterns in your health over time.’
The company claims that this technology was developed in collaboration with doctors. OpenAI has said it has collaborated with 260 physicians and dozens of experts in 60 countries over the past two years. Experts suggest that such features should not be used as a substitute for a doctor, but rather as a way to prepare questions to ask a doctor. They caution against going directly to the hospital in serious or emergency situations and to consult with a qualified doctor before starting any new medication or supplement.
