UTHealth Houston receives $1.3M grant to build AI chatbot that helps older patients define health priorities before clinical visits

UTHealth Houston Gets $1.3M to Build Chatbot for Older Patients

Researchers at UTHealth Houston received an 18-month, $1.3 million grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation to develop a conversational AI platform that helps older adults clarify their health priorities before doctor visits.

The system uses a structured script to guide patients through identifying what matters most in their care. It then generates a health priorities note that shapes the conversation between patient and physician.

The Problem It Addresses

Older adults managing multiple chronic conditions often see different specialists for each issue-one for heart disease, another for diabetes, a third for arthritis. Care becomes fragmented. Patients rarely get asked what their actual health goals are or whether a proposed treatment helps them reach those goals.

Time constraints, unfamiliarity with the process, and discomfort discussing priorities with clinicians create barriers, said Aanand Naik, the project's primary investigator and a professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.

Early Results

Pilot testing shows patients and caregivers feel more engaged and heard after using the tool. Patients report lower treatment burden and better alignment between their care and their stated priorities.

The team will test the platform across two Medicare managed care practices in partnership with America's Physician Groups.

Who's Involved

The UTHealth Houston team includes researchers from the School of Public Health and the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics. External partners include investigators from Texas A&M University and America's Physician Groups.

The grant is part of an $11.4 million initiative from the Hartford Foundation focused on age-friendly healthcare approaches.