Novant Health in North Carolina has made two new digital tools available to its patients. The physician matcher and virtual assistant are now available on the organization’s website. 

The tools underwent pilot testing last fall. Known together as Novant Health Now, the tools are already helping patients to access care and obtain information to make healthcare decisions.

The physician matcher works somewhat like a dating app and uses a patient’s personal preferences – gender, languages spoken, years of experience, expertise in specific treatments, e.g. - to find the best physician match. The virtual assistant is accessible via voice or text and provides real-time information on physicians and services, appointment scheduling – both virtual and in-person, and Covid testing and vaccinations. The virtual assistant can also connect with a live agent.

In addition to My Novant Now, the organization also redesigned its MyNovant health management app.

Consumer demand for digital tools to find and access health services continues to increase, with 60% of consumers currently saying they go online to research healthcare services and providers. Over half of consumers rely on healthcare organization websites for information on services and providers.

Jesse Cureton, executive vice president and chief consumer officer at Novant Health, says, "It's not enough to keep up with the trends, we are anticipating these changes and being proactive to ensure our capabilities to deliver the best care."