Healthcare just got smarter! MUSC Health’s new AI agent Emily is transforming patient access with seamless self-service 🩺

SoundHound AI has partnered with MUSC Health to implement an AI agent named Emily, which utilizes the Amelia Patient Engagement solution to enhance patient access and streamline appointment management. Emily, available 24/7, integrates with Epic to provide personalized and efficient self-service for patients, handling appointment scheduling and non-clinical inquiries. The initiative aims to boost patient satisfaction and operational efficiency by reducing call volumes and wait times. SoundHound AI’s Amelia solution, recently acquired, is designed for healthcare, offering secure and scalable AI agents that can automate various tasks such as scheduling, patient payments, and check-ins, thereby enhancing the overall patient experience.

The Introduction of Emily: A New AI Agent for Patient Engagement

MUSC Health, a prominent Charleston-based healthcare provider, has deployed an AI agent named Emily, powered by SoundHound AI’s recently acquired Amelia Patient Engagement solution. Emily is designed to operate within MUSC Health’s patient access center, where she answers calls 24/7, assists with appointment scheduling, and addresses non-clinical inquiries. Through integration with Epic, a widely used electronic health record system, Emily delivers a personalized, streamlined, and efficient patient self-service experience.

Enhancing Patient Satisfaction and Operational Efficiency

Emily’s introduction aims to improve patient satisfaction by reducing wait times and providing immediate support for appointment management. By automating these tasks, Emily alleviates some of the administrative burdens that often contribute to patient stress, such as long wait times and complex processes. Crystal Broj, Enterprise Chief Digital Transformation Officer at MUSC Health, highlighted the positive impact of Amelia’s integration with Epic, noting that the AI-powered digital assistant is already enhancing patient access and operational efficiency. This innovation aligns with MUSC Health’s goal of offering best-in-class service across all touchpoints in the care continuum.

Addressing Challenges in Healthcare with AI

Navigating the healthcare system can be daunting for patients, especially when dealing with administrative hurdles that add to the stress of seeking care. Recognizing this, MUSC Health has proactively deployed Emily to provide immediate, personalized support, thus smoothing the patient journey through the care continuum. Michael Anderson, Executive Vice President of Enterprise AI at SoundHound AI, praised MUSC Health as a pioneer in integrating AI into healthcare. He emphasized that the deployment of Emily represents a significant step forward in the digital transformation of patient access, setting a precedent for other healthcare systems.

The Amelia Patient Engagement Solution

Emily is part of SoundHound AI’s broader Amelia Patient Engagement solution, which combines conversational AI and generative AI technologies to offer reliable, secure, and scalable AI agents for healthcare organizations. These agents are HIPAA-compliant and capable of operating across various voice- or chat-based channels, providing natural-language conversations to automate a wide range of self-service tasks.

Key Functions of Amelia AI Agents

Healthcare providers, including leading health systems, use Amelia AI agents to automate several patient-related tasks, enhancing both patient experience and operational efficiency. Some of the key functions include:

• Scheduling and Managing Appointments: AI agents assist patients in booking, rescheduling, and canceling appointments without human intervention.
• Intake, Pre-Registration, and Check-In: The AI streamlines the administrative processes involved in patient intake and registration, improving the flow of patient information.
• Patient Payments: AI agents facilitate secure and easy payment processing, enhancing convenience for patients.
• Medication Refills: By automating the process of requesting and approving medication refills, AI agents reduce the workload on healthcare providers and ensure timely patient access to necessary medications.
• Finding Locations, Doctors, and Services: AI agents help patients locate healthcare facilities, find specific doctors, and access relevant healthcare services efficiently.

Insights:

• Integration with Epic enables seamless AI-driven patient interactions.
• 24/7 availability of Emily can significantly reduce patient wait times.
• AI agents like Emily can mitigate administrative burdens on healthcare staff.

The Essence (80/20)The Origins and Evolution of the 80/20 Principle The Discovery by Vilfredo Pareto In 1897, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto uncovered a striking pattern in his study of wealth and... More: The core of this initiative is the integration of AI-driven agents to enhance patient experience and operational efficiency in healthcare. By deploying the Amelia Patient Engagement solution, MUSC Health utilizes AI to manage patient appointments and inquiries, providing a scalable, reliable, and secure solution that integrates with existing healthcare systems like Epic. The AI agents are designed to automate routine tasks, reducing administrative load and improving accessibility.

The Action Plan – What SoundHound Will Likely Do Next

Monitor and Optimize: Continuously assess AI performance, patient satisfaction, and operational efficiency metrics to refine and expand AI capabilities.

Assess Integration Needs: Evaluate healthcare system requirements for AI integration, focusing on patient touchpoints like appointment scheduling and non-clinical inquiries.

Deploy AI Agents: Implement the Amelia Patient Engagement solution, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations like HIPAA.

Blind Spot

Potential patient hesitancy or lack of trust in interacting with AI agents for healthcare-related tasks may be overlooked. Ensuring user education and trust-building measures are crucial.

SOUN Technical Analysis (daily)

This daily chart of Soundhound AI Inc (SOUN) shows a stock currently trading at $4.87, with the 50-day moving average (blue line) at approximately $4.97 and the 200-day moving average (red line) at $4.28. The stock is consolidating after a recent uptrend from around mid-May to mid-July, where it reached a peak near $7 before pulling back to current levels.

Trend Analysis:
The stock is in a sideways consolidation phase with minor fluctuations around the 50-day moving average. The price has recently stayed above the 200-day moving average, which can act as a longer-term support level, suggesting a neutral to mildly bullish trend in the near term. The flat movement in both moving averages suggests the absence of a strong directional trend.

Support and Resistance Levels:

• Support: The key support level is around the 200-day moving average at $4.28. Another support level is at $4.50, which has been tested multiple times during the consolidation phase.
• Resistance: The resistance is seen around $5.00 to $5.20, aligning closely with the 50-day moving average and the recent highs during the consolidation phase. A more significant resistance is around $6.00, reflecting the peaks observed in early July.

Indicator Analysis:

• Relative Strength IndexIn the world of technical analysis, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands as a cornerstone tool for traders seeking insights into market momentum. Developed by J. Welles Wilder ... More (RSI): Currently at 49.05, the RSI is in the neutral zone, indicating neither overbought nor oversold conditions.
• On Balance VolumeThe On Balance Volume indicator (OBV) is a technical analysis tool used to measure the flow of money into and out of a security over a specified period of time. It is a cumulative ... More (OBV): The OBV is relatively flat, suggesting a lack of strong buying or selling pressure.
• Stochastic RSIIn the realm of technical analysis, the Stochastic RSI (StochRSI) emerges as a powerful tool for traders seeking to navigate market dynamics with precision. Developed by Tushar S. ... More: The Stochastic RSI is around 0.458, indicating a neutral position with no strong momentum in either direction.
• Chaikin OscillatorNamed after its creator Marc Chaikin, the Chaikin Oscillator stands as a formidable tool in the arsenal of technical analysts. This oscillator is designed to measure the accumulati... More: This is showing negative values around -7.65M, suggesting a bearish divergence in the accumulation-distribution, which could indicate potential selling pressure.
• MACDThe MACD indicator is essentially a momentum indicator that shows the relationship between two different moving averages of price. The MACD is the difference between the 12-period ... More: The MACD line is slightly above the signal line at 0.04, indicating a weak bullish crossover, but the histogram shows minimal momentum, pointing towards continued sideways action.

Future Trend Indications:
The current consolidation near key moving averages, coupled with mixed signals from indicators, suggests that the stock lacks a strong directional trend in the near term. The neutral RSI, flat OBV, and weak MACD signal suggest the possibility of continued range-bound movement unless there is a significant breakout above the resistance at $5.20 or a breakdown below the support at $4.50.

Time-Frame Signals:

• 3-Month Outlook: Hold. The stock is likely to continue its range-bound movement between $4.50 and $5.20 unless volume and momentum significantly change.
• 6-Month Outlook: Hold. Given the lack of strong trends, a hold position is appropriate while monitoring for a breakout above resistance levels or a breakdown below support.
• 12-Month Outlook: Buy on dips towards the 200-day moving average ($4.28) as a longer-term support, with potential for upside if the stock can break above the key resistance at $6.00 and maintain momentum.

Overall, this chart indicates a neutral to mildly bullish outlook in the near term, with an opportunity for a more decisive move once clear directional signals emerge.

SOUN Technical Analysis (weekly)

This chart shows the weekly performance of Soundhound AI Inc. over a period from October 2022 to August 2024. The stock price is currently at $4.87, down 0.16 on the last trading day. The orange line represents the Anchored Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP), which is currently at $4.88.

Support levels are around $4.50 and $3.50, where the stock has found buying interest in the past. Resistance levels are at approximately $6.00 and $7.50, where the stock has faced selling pressure.

Time-Frame Signals:

1-Year: In the past year, the stock experienced a significant increase in early 2024, reaching above $10 before pulling back. The current trend shows a consolidation phase between $4.50 and $6.00, suggesting a neutral to slightly bearish outlook if it remains below the $6.00 resistance.

2-Year: Over the last two years, the stock has shown a volatile pattern with a major downtrend from $14 in late 2022, followed by a recovery in early 2024. The overall trend could be considered cautiously bullish if it holds above the $4.50 support and breaks above the $6.00 resistance.

3-Year: Looking at the broader 3-year trend, the stock remains in a recovery phase from significant lows around $1.00 in late 2022. If the price can sustain above key supports and continue to challenge resistance levels, there is potential for further gains, though the stock’s volatility suggests caution.

The On-Balance Volume (OBV) indicator is trending upwards, reflecting increasing buying pressure which could support future price gains if volume continues to rise.

Future Trends: The chart suggests potential for further upside if the stock can break and hold above the $6.00 resistance. A breakout above this level with strong volume could indicate a bullish trend continuation. Conversely, a break below $4.50 may suggest renewed bearish pressure.

Past performance is not an indication of future results, and this article should not be considered as investment advice. Always conduct your own research and consider consulting with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. 🧡

Looking Ahead

SoundHound AI’s partnership with MUSC Health marks a significant advancement in the use of AI in healthcare, specifically in patient engagement and access management. By deploying Emily, MUSC Health is setting a new standard for how AI can be utilized to enhance patient satisfaction, reduce operational burdens, and streamline healthcare processes. As the Amelia Patient Engagement solution continues to evolve, it is poised to play a crucial role in the digital transformation of healthcare, providing patients with a more efficient, personalized, and accessible healthcare experience.