Hippocratic AI raises $141 million to combat healthcare staffing shortage with AI agents
Hippocratic AI, a healthcare-focused AI startup, has secured a massive $141 million in Series B funding to tackle the global shortage of medical professionals. The round, led by venture capital giant Kleiner Perkins, brings the company's total funding to over $278 million and propels its valuation to a staggering $1.64 billion.
Building a team of AI agents
Hippocratic AI, named after the ancient medical oath, aims to revolutionize healthcare by deploying safe and effective AI agents to assist clinicians and hospital staff.
The company originally focused on creating generative AI chatbots to assist clinicians but has shifted its focus to patient-oriented AI agents capable of handling various aspects of care. These sophisticated AI agents leverage the latest advancements in unsupervised learning, allowing them to perform complex tasks independently.
The AI agent app store: A marketplace for medical expertise
Hippocratic AI has also announced an AI Agent App Store allowing clinicians to actively participate in designing AI agents for specific patient needs. Clinicians can create a basic prototype in under 30 minutes, with a fully functional agent ready for testing within just a few hours.
The AI startup maintains that safety is a core priority throughout the development process. The company only works with licensed clinicians who undergo rigorous verification. Following agent creation, Hippocratic AI conducts extensive testing with a network of over 6,000 nurses and 300 doctors, ensuring each agent meets all safety requirements before deployment.
"Since our inception, we've believed that collaboration with caregivers is key to building safe and effective AI," said Munjal Shah, CEO of Hippocratic AI.
Clinicians can monitor their AI agent's performance through a dedicated dashboard, receiving valuable feedback for further refinement. Additionally, successful agents can generate revenue for their creators, further incentivizing clinician involvement.
Addressing labor shortage in healthcare
Hippocratic AI aims to address the critical shortage of nurses, social workers, and nutritionists plaguing healthcare systems worldwide. The company's diverse range of AI agents includes those specializing in chronic disease management, medication adherence, and post-discharge follow-up for conditions like heart failure. Specifically, the initial offering boasts over 300 agents across 25 different disciplines.
With its innovative approach and impressive early customer list, including Arkos Health, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and WellSpan Health, Hippocratic AI is well poised to revolutionize healthcare by leveraging AI to bridge the critical gap in medical staffing and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
