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Penn Medicine

by Penn Medicine · Based in United States → — Built on firsts. Driven by innovation.

Dermatology Emergency Medicine Neurology

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Overview

Penn Medicine has implemented several AI tools to enhance clinical workflows and patient care. One such tool is Chart Hero, a generative AI-powered, chat-based system designed to synthesize patient data from electronic health records (EHRs). This tool allows clinicians to quickly gather, organize, and interpret pertinent patient information, appearing as a sidebar within the EHR. Chart Hero is intended for use by clinicians across various specialties and care settings to streamline the pre-visit patient review process, potentially reducing the time spent sifting through extensive medical histories.

Another initiative involves integrating K Health’s AI-powered patient intake agents, initially in virtual urgent care (Penn Medicine OnDemand), with plans to expand into in-person primary care and specialties like cardiology and dermatology. These AI agents conduct an intake process by asking patients about symptoms and reasons for seeking care, then generate a draft clinical chart for the provider’s EHR before the appointment. This aims to reduce patient wait times, streamline clinical workflows, and support clinicians with visit preparation and documentation.

Penn Medicine also utilizes AI for other purposes, including an AI-enabled system to assist with replies to patient messages, where AI drafts are reviewed by clinicians before sending. Additionally, AI scribe technology is in use by over 1,200 providers for automated note-taking during patient visits. The institution is also exploring AI for medical education through the CRISP (Clinical Reasoning Insights for Shaping Performance) initiative, which uses AI to analyze clinical reasoning skills in medical students and trainees across specialties such as Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Surgery, and Radiology.

Reviewed by Pouyan Golshani, MD — Interventional Radiologist

Key Features

Data sifting
Data synthesis
Patient data summarization
Key information highlighting
Supports diagnostic accuracy
Aids treatment planning

Use Cases

Quickly review patient history
Support clinical decision-making
Reduce physician data overload
Enhance efficiency in patient data review
Assist in emergency department settings
Facilitate consultations

What Physicians Need to Know

Evidence Base (guidelines, literature scope)

The AI tool, Chart Hero, is powered by a large language model that searches available data sources across a patient's chart, including images, scanned documents, notes, and summaries. It contextualizes this data with evidence from medical literature. Penn Medicine also collaborates on peer-reviewed research to expand the global evidence base for routine clinical AI automation.

Clinical Validation Studies

Chart Hero is currently in a testing phase with over 50 users across various inpatient and outpatient settings, including Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Infectious Disease, Cardiology, and Emergency Medicine. In its first three months, it produced over 1,000 outputs and received largely positive feedback (68% positive) with a Net Promoter Score of 54. Penn Medicine plans to roll out AI tools in the next two years using validation studies and small test runs. The collaboration with K Health also includes co-development of peer-reviewed research examining the use of clinical AI in routine care settings.

Alert Fatigue Management

While the provided information does not specifically detail alert fatigue management for Chart Hero, Penn Medicine's broader AI initiatives, such as the AI scribe, aim to reduce documentation burden and allow clinicians to focus more on patient interaction, which can indirectly mitigate factors contributing to alert fatigue. Generally, AI systems are seen as a solution for delivering highly personalized and clinically relevant alerts to reduce alert fatigue.

Drug Interaction Checking

The AI tool is designed to answer a wide range of questions, including inquiries about whether specific medications can cause particular side effects. Penn researchers are also using AI and social media to assess drug side effects, analyzing large-scale, real-world data.

Differential Diagnosis Support

The AI tool assists clinicians in sifting through large volumes of patient data to quickly surface relevant information and contextualize it with medical literature. It can also suggest potential courses of action for patients, which doctors can then review. Penn Medicine is also developing AI that can give feedback on clinical reasoning, which is crucial for diagnostic processes.

Guideline Update Frequency

The AI field is rapidly evolving, and Penn's guidelines for AI use are anticipated to be updated regularly. The Penn Medicine Center for Evidence-based Practice (CEP) has an AI policy from February 2024 and regularly updates its methods for gathering and analyzing evidence.

Clinical Workflow Integration

Chart Hero appears as a sidebar in the electronic health record (EHR) system, allowing clinicians to gather, arrange, synthesize, and interpret pertinent patient information with simple queries. It is an Epic-integrated conversational AI assistant. The tool is designed to streamline clinical workflows, reduce patient wait times, and support clinicians with visit preparation and documentation tasks. Penn Medicine is also integrating K Health's AI agents directly into its existing EHR systems and patient-facing digital platforms.

Decision Audit Trail

Chart Hero responses provide citations that link directly to data sources within the patient's chart, allowing users to reference the source material. This feature supports transparency and accountability in the AI's outputs. The software functions as a continuous layer that prepares the provider visit, optimizes workflow coordination, and seamlessly routes patient inquiries into an auditable pathway.

Physician Tip

Leverage Chart Hero to rapidly synthesize patient data and generate summaries before visits, saving significant time on chart review. Always critically review the AI's suggestions and sourced information, as human oversight remains crucial for validating outputs and addressing potential 'hallucinations.' Utilize the tool's ability to suggest potential courses of action as a starting point for your clinical decision-making, combining AI insights with your expertise. Provide feedback on the tool's performance to help refine its accuracy and functionality.

Chart Hero is an Epic-integrated conversational AI assistant, appearing as a sidebar within the EHR. Penn Medicine is also undertaking a multi-year collaboration with K Health to deploy AI clinical agents across its network EHR platforms, with an initial focus on virtual urgent care and plans to expand into primary and specialty care. This integration aims to streamline pre-visit data loops and insulate physicians from charting fatigue.

At a glance

Deployment On Premise (internal System Within Penn Medicine's Electronic Health Record)

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Details

Category	Clinical Decision Support & Reference, Documentation & Scribing, General Productivity (AI Assistants)
Pricing	Unknown The AI tool 'Chart Hero' is a new generative AI-powered, chat-based system created at Penn Medicine's Center for Health Care Transformation and Innovation (CHTI) in partnership with the Penn Medicine Data and Technology Solutions (DTS) team There is no publicly available pricing information, as it appears to be an internal tool developed for use within Penn Medicine
Deployment	On-premise (internal system within Penn Medicine's electronic health record)
Mobile App	1
API Available	No
Languages	English
Training	Unknown
Target Size	Large health system
Compliance
BAA Available	Unknown AI-estimated
HIPAA Compliant	Unknown AI-estimated
FDA Status	1 AI-estimated Penn Medicine has contributed to at least 55 FDA approvals since 2013, including the first personalized gene therapy and the first mRNA vaccines. In one instance, Quantiva partnered with Penn Medicine to bring an AI medical device from research prototype to FDA-cleared commercial product, achieving FDA 510(k) clearance within months for an AI-powered auto-contouring tool for radiation oncology treatment planning.
Integrations
EHR	Not specified
Specialties	Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Neurology

Social Proof

Customers	unknown
Notable	Penn Medicine (developer)

Support & Reliability

Training Provided

Unknown

What the Web Says

Penn Medicine receives mixed reviews, with strong praise for its specialized care, professional doctors, and advanced research, particularly in cancer treatment and AI integration. However, many patients and employees express significant frustration with administrative issues, including scheduling, billing, and communication, especially after acquisitions. The new AI tools, like Chart Hero and ambient listening, are seen as beneficial for efficiency and patient interaction by many physicians, though some have mixed feelings about editing AI-generated notes.

Overall: Mixed

Strengths

Top-notch specialized care and professional doctors, especially for complex or rare conditions like brain tumors and pancreatic cancer.
Advanced research and innovative treatments, particularly in oncology and AI applications.
AI tools like Chart Hero improve efficiency by synthesizing patient data, saving doctors time on administrative tasks.
Ambient listening AI allows doctors to focus more on patient interaction during visits.
Good benefits and competitive pay for employees in some roles.
Commitment to transparency by publishing patient satisfaction scores and comments online.

Limitations

Significant administrative and bureaucratic issues, including difficult scheduling, incorrect referrals, and disorganized systems.
Poor communication and lack of proactive supervision from management, leading to a stressful work environment for some employees.
Billing department issues and unexpected out-of-pocket costs are frequently reported by patients.
Long wait times for appointments and tests, even for time-sensitive issues.
High employee turnover rate and concerns about management's treatment of long-term staff.
Concerns among some staff about the integration of AI into research documentation processes, particularly regarding patient data privacy and job security.

Based on reviews from: Indeed.com, Reddit, WHYY, Penn Medicine, Healthgrades, Becker's Hospital Review, Facebook, Trustpilot, Philadelphia Magazine, Breakroom, YouTube, The Daily Pennsylvanian

Last updated: 2026-09-16

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Press & Coverage

Penn Medicine News Release

New AI tool helps doctors to sift and synthesize patient data

Penn Medicine has developed a new AI-guided platform called Chart Hero that allows clinicians to quickly gather, arrange, synthesize, and interpret pertinent information from patients' electronic health records. This tool aims to simplify patient care and create more time for meaningful patient interactions by automating the process of sifting through vast amounts of data.

2026-01

Unite.AI

OpenEvidence and Penn Medicine Launch Global Clinical AI Partnership

OpenEvidence and Penn Medicine announced a global partnership to integrate AI-powered clinical decision support for over 10,000 clinicians across Penn Medicine's health system, including extending support to low- and middle-income countries through the Botswana-UPenn Partnership. This collaboration aims to provide personalized, evidence-based insights directly from medical literature and electronic health records.

2026-09

The Daily Pennsylvanian

Penn Med responds to FDA guidance on gene therapy

Penn Medicine provided feedback to the FDA on new guidance for gene therapy research, supporting a framework that leverages existing scientific and manufacturing information to accelerate treatment development. Dean Jonathan Epstein of the Perelman School of Medicine offered suggestions for clarification on how the guidance impacts previous regulations.

2026-09

Becker's Hospital Review

Penn Medicine operating income jumps to $337M in FY 2026; over 60% of revenue now stems from outpatient

The University of Pennsylvania Health System reported a significant increase in operating income to $337 million in fiscal year 2026, with over 60% of its $13.6 billion total revenue now derived from outpatient services. This growth is attributed to strong performance in clinical programs and the acquisition of Penn Medicine Doylestown Health.

2026-09

Penn Medicine News Release

Julia Puchtler named executive vice president and chief financial officer of UPHS

Julia Puchtler has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, taking on an expanded role in guiding Penn Medicine's long-term strategic direction and investments in patient care, research, and education.

2026-09

Becker's Hospital Review

10 trends shaping health IT and revenue cycle in 2026

Penn Medicine anticipates over $100 million in AI-driven performance gains in the coming years, with notable improvements in prior authorization automation and denial management. The article highlights workflow redesign as a crucial imperative, with Penn Medicine planning a fully ambient, keyboard-free clinic.

2026-09

Penn Medicine News Release

Findings from the Journal of Lancaster General Hospital u2014 Fall 2026

The Fall 2026 issue of the Journal of Lancaster General Hospital features scientific articles on new clinical research and technological introductions from Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health medical staff. Topics include safe mobility for older drivers, mucocutaneous changes in a pediatric patient, and primary care insights.

2026-09

Penn Today

RTW Foundation donates $8M to reimagine physician training in Penn's Perelman School of Medicine

The RTW Foundation has donated $8 million to the Perelman School of Medicine at Penn to transform physician training, including curriculum changes, a new lectureship, and naming the Entrepreneurship Pathway.

2026-01

Videos

Product demos, reviews, and walkthroughs for Penn Medicine.

Penn Medicine Radnor: Now Open

Penn Medicine

Advanced Practice Providers at Penn Medicine

Penn Medicine

The Past, Present and Future of Medicine, All in One Place | Penn Medicine

Penn Medicine

Day in the Life of an Oncology Nurse at Penn Medicine

Penn Medicine

Soaring Through the Pavilion | An FPV Drone Tour of Penn Medicine's New Hospital

Penn Medicine

In-Depth Look at the Perelman School of Medicine Student Experience

Penn Medicine

View all on YouTube

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Penn Medicine's clinical decision support (CDS) system integrate into my existing workflow?

Penn Medicine's primary CDS, PennPathways, is accessible through the UPHS & Entity Intranets, PennChart (via UPHS Links >> Algorithms >> PennPathways), and SCiP Phones. SELECT PennPathways are deeply integrated into PennChart, allowing users to place orders, review lab results, and write data to flowsheets directly from the pathway.

What is the expected compliance rate for physicians using Penn Medicine's CDS, and how is it monitored?

While specific compliance rates for physicians using Penn Medicine's CDS are not readily available, the Center for Evidence-based Practice (CEP) aims to integrate best evidence into decision-making to strengthen care quality and safety. Penn Medicine's Information Services department also implements best practice clinical alerts, decision support, and reminders to enhance caregiver decisions. Compliance in research settings is facilitated through a review program that identifies noncompliance and offers training.

Are there alternatives to Penn Medicine's internal CDS that I should be aware of, or can I integrate external tools?

Penn Medicine's PennPathways program recently transitioned to a new tool called AgileMD, which offers improved functionality. While the system focuses on Penn-approved clinical guidance, external clinical decision support tools like UpToDate are widely used and offer evidence-based solutions, drug information, and CME opportunities. The integration of external tools would likely depend on Penn Medicine's IT policies and system compatibility.

What are the costs associated with using Penn Medicine's clinical decision support tools for physicians?

Information regarding specific pricing for Penn Medicine's internal clinical decision support tools for employed physicians is not publicly available. Generally, access to such internal systems is part of the institutional resources provided to staff. For patients, Penn Medicine offers price transparency for procedures and virtual second opinions, which are self-pay programs.

What are the known limitations of Penn Medicine's current CDS, particularly concerning AI-driven support?

While Penn Medicine is actively leveraging AI to improve clinical reasoning and patient care, including initiatives like CRISP, the rapid adoption of AI in healthcare is outpacing governance frameworks. Potential limitations and risks of AI-driven CDS include errors, miscommunication, clinician deskilling, privacy issues, bias, and data security vulnerabilities. The question of whether clinicians should remain 'in the loop' or relinquish some control to AI algorithms is also a point of discussion.

How can I request a new clinical pathway or suggest modifications to an existing one within Penn Medicine's CDS?

Anyone can submit requests for PennPathways by using their custom intake form and selecting 'Option 2 - PennPathways Request for evidence-based algorithms and associated supporting documentation.'

Does Penn Medicine's CDS incorporate personalized medicine or genomic data for tailored treatment recommendations?

Yes, Penn Medicine's Center for Personalized Diagnostics (CPD) utilizes massively parallel sequencing panels to evaluate multiple targetable genes in cancer specimens, providing information for individualized therapies. This supports the clinical oncology team in tailoring treatment courses and outcomes.