US-based digital patient engagement company Get Well has introduced Opal, an on-demand AI patient assistant designed to enhance the hospital experience and support after discharge.

Opal is intended to function as an always-on agent that provides patients with tools to manage their healthcare journey, as well as help with navigating inpatient stays and preparing for discharge.

The AI patient assistant offers educational content for patients, their families and caregivers, as well as reminders for follow-up appointments without the need for a separate app.

By functioning as an intelligent extension of the care team, it aims to help health systems reduce costs, optimise resources and decrease the likelihood of patient readmissions.

Get Well founder and CEO Michael O’Neil said: “Joining SAIGroup has accelerated Get Well’s access to data, technology, and talent to unleash the power of GenAI and agentic AI on reducing friction for patients, empowering caregivers, and delivering more value for health systems at every point in the care continuum.

“Opal is Get Well’s first manifestation of a new precision care platform aimed at expanding the power of patient and clinician engagement to improve experience, quality, and cost of care.” 

The launch of Opal coincides with the demonstration of AI-driven assistants by Get Well and its sister company, RhythmX AI.

These assistants have been developed using the precision care platform created by the two companies' parent company, SAIGroup.

SAIGroup chair Dr Romesh Wadhwani said: “With Get Well now part of the SAIGroup family, we’re combining the proven strengths of Get Well’s Opal agent and RhythmX AI’s precision primary care solutions to create the next generation of healthcare innovation - one that thinks, learns, and acts alongside clinicians and patients.”

In June 2023, Get Well began working with US-based IT provider CareView Communications in an effort to streamline virtual care for inpatients.