Cedars-Sinai's AI tool delivered 24/7 care to 42,000 patients. Now, doctors can focus on treatment, not paperwork.

Cedars-Sinai, a renowned nonprofit healthcare organization in Los Angeles, is making waves in the medical community with its innovative use of artificial intelligence. Since its inception in 1902, Cedars-Sinai has grown to operate over 40 facilities, employing more than 4,500 healthcare professionals and serving upwards of a million patients annually. The driving force behind this technological leap is Caroline Goldzweig, the chief medical officer of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network. She emphasizes the organization’s commitment to improving access to primary care while minimizing the administrative load on physicians. Long wait times for appointments and burdensome paperwork have long plagued the healthcare system, prompting the launch of Cedars-Sinai Connect in 2023. CS Connect is an AI-driven virtual platform that provides patients with around-the-clock healthcare support. Goldzweig highlights the platform's ability to enhance patient care while expediting the treatment process. By utilizing AI technology, healthcare providers can focus more on direct patient interaction and less on administrative tasks. Developed in collaboration with K Health, an AI-based digital healthcare company, CS Connect integrates seamlessly with patients’ electronic health records. This collaboration, alongside efforts from Cedars-Sinai’s IT teams, aims to streamline the healthcare experience, allowing physicians to allocate more time to patient consultations and treatment planning. Patients accessing CS Connect can log in via a mobile app or website. The platform features a chat function that guides users through a series of questions regarding their symptoms. Using AI algorithms, the system correlates these responses with the patient's medical history and the experiences of others with similar symptoms, leading to a more tailored inquiry. For instance, if a patient describes a sore throat, the chatbot may request photos to assist in diagnosis. Following a thorough assessment, the AI summarizes the information and proposes potential treatments, which physicians can review and adapt as necessary. Goldzweig notes that this process aids doctors in validating patient information and allows for more informed discussions. To date, around 42,000 patients have interacted with CS Connect. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in April 2025 highlighted the efficacy of AI recommendations compared to those made by physicians. The research analyzed 461 physician-managed visits and found that AI suggestions were often deemed of higher quality, with 77% rated optimal versus 67% for physician decisions. Notably, the AI successfully identified patients with recurring urinary tract infections, advocating for bacterial cultures before antibiotic prescriptions—an approach that could alleviate antibiotic resistance, a common issue in such cases. However, Goldzweig acknowledges limitations in the study, including a narrow focus on specific medical conditions and the influence of identifiable recommendation sources on reviewer assessments. Looking ahead, Cedars-Sinai is not resting on its laurels. The organization is set to pilot remote patient monitoring technology using AI to assist patients in managing chronic conditions, such as hypertension. Furthermore, they plan to integrate AI capabilities to bridge the gap between virtual and in-person urgent care visits, heralding a new era of comprehensive patient care.