My IT team is exploring AI tools, but we keep hitting a wall. We use Epic (our EHR) and a separate CRM for patient outreach. Most AI tools we demo are standalone. They can "read" data if we export it, but they can't "write" data back into Epic. This means a doctor has to use the AI, get an answer, and then manually type that answer or summary back into the patient's chart. It just creates more work. How are these tools supposed to save time if they don't integrate?

You’ve hit on the exact problem with "AI assistants". They are often read-only. They can pull data from external systems, but they can't act on them. This is the main difference with the new "AI agents". Agents are built for integration. They are designed to interact with their environment directly through APIs and digital tools. So, an AI agent wouldn't just suggest a follow-up. It would access the EHR via its API, write the note, update the patient record, and then interact with the CRM API to schedule the follow-up email. It’s a totally different level of capability. You're not looking for an "assistant," you need an "agent." This article explains that exact capability: https://orangesoft.co/blog/ai-agents-in-healthcare Look at the "Integration" row in their comparison table. It’s exactly what you’re describing.

This is a revelation. I've been using the wrong search terms. "AI agent" seems to be the specific technology we need. The ability to directly update systems via API is the missing piece. Thank you so much for clarifying this, the article link is super helpful.