Epocrates Launches AI in Healthcare Apps Assistant to Support Clinicians in Medication Decisions

Exploring the Role of AI in Healthcare Apps

The Impact of AI in Healthcare Apps on Patient Outcomes

The integration of AI in healthcare apps is reshaping how clinicians access, interpret, and apply medical knowledge at the point of care. One recent advancement comes from epocrates, a clinical decision-support and drug reference app owned by athenahealth. The company has introduced a new AI assistant feature designed to provide clinicians with quick and concise answers about prescription medications. This tool reflects the growing role of AI in healthcare apps, especially in supporting informed and reliable prescribing decisions in fast-paced clinical environments.

Founded 25 years ago, epocrates has become one of the most widely trusted resources in medicine, with more than one million healthcare professionals using the app. Executives report that the platform processes roughly 430,000 drug lookups daily. The app’s free version offers critical tools like drug information, an interaction checker, and a pill identifier, while a paid subscription unlocks more advanced content. Originally focused on medication references, epocrates has expanded over time to include disease insights and clinical guidelines—demonstrating how AI in healthcare apps can evolve to meet the needs of modern clinicians.

The recently launched AI assistant is specifically designed to enhance drug information delivery. It provides details such as dosing, interactions, and contraindications in a conversational, easy-to-understand format. Unlike generic tools, this feature relies on epocrates’ trusted drug monograph content and references from reputable sources. By combining large language models (LLMs) with structured patient information, the app ensures accurate and clinically relevant responses. Kabir Seth, vice president of product and technology at epocrates, emphasized that their approach blends innovation with clinician-led oversight. This balance illustrates the value of carefully implementing AI in healthcare apps while maintaining a foundation of reliability and trust.

The assistant’s smart summaries synthesize extensive drug information and integrate seamlessly with epocrates’ interaction checker. Clinicians can ask detailed questions and receive clear, actionable responses. This not only supports medical decision-making but also provides epocrates with valuable insights into the thought processes of healthcare professionals. With AI in healthcare apps like this, the focus is on streamlining the prescribing process while reducing the risk of fragmented or inaccurate information.

One of the most common critiques of AI tools in medicine is that they can overwhelm users with excessive or unclear data. Epocrates took a different approach: refining the AI’s responses with clinician feedback to ensure precision, clarity, and practicality. Seth explained that healthcare professionals want tools that empower their judgment, not replace it. “From talking to our users, they are not interested in an AI assistant that tells them, ‘This is exactly what you should do.’ They are very interested in an assistant that provides the parameters and options so they can make the right decision.” This philosophy demonstrates why AI in healthcare apps is most effective when it enhances human expertise rather than attempting to substitute it.

Beyond clinical data, epocrates’ AI assistant now offers retail pricing for medications and will soon include insurance pricing. This addition recognizes that affordability plays a major role in patient access to treatment. By incorporating cost data into prescribing discussions, clinicians can better support their patients in making informed and realistic choices. This innovation highlights how AI in healthcare apps can go beyond clinical decision support and address real-world challenges like medication affordability.

Epocrates’ strong reputation as a trusted medical resource gives it a unique advantage in the competitive landscape of AI-driven healthcare tools. The app’s net promoter score of 62.8 underscores its credibility and user loyalty. Building on this foundation, the company plans to further develop its AI assistant by expanding disease content, enhancing drug comparison tools, and integrating more closely with athenahealth’s broader technology ecosystem.

Looking forward, epocrates envisions even more personalized AI assistance. Future iterations may adapt based on a user’s medical specialty, frequently asked questions, and past activity—further improving efficiency and relevance. Seth describes the current stage of AI in healthcare apps as the “early innings,” noting that the full potential of clinician-AI collaboration is still emerging.

In conclusion, epocrates’ new AI assistant illustrates the transformative role of AI in healthcare apps in improving how clinicians access drug information, evaluate treatment options, and consider patient affordability. By combining trusted content with advanced technology and clinician oversight, the company demonstrates a model for how AI can responsibly advance healthcare delivery. As the industry continues to evolve, the adoption of AI in healthcare apps is likely to accelerate, making them indispensable tools in modern medical practice.