WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Ushering in a new phase of digitally enabled care, Novant Health has launched Aubrey, an AI-enabled virtual assistant designed to support patients and care teams across the health system. Aubrey delivers timely, personalized information, reminders and guidance – helping patients feel more prepared, informed and connected throughout their care journeys.
The first use of Aubrey for patients is in a phased pilot focused on perioperative care coordination in partnership with Qventus, a company that specializes in AI-powered care operations. In a phased rollout for select procedures in the Charlotte region, Aubrey will help patients prepare for surgery by providing personalized outreach, clear pre-op instructions and round‑the‑clock support.
The deployment with Qventus – the first of its kind in the Carolinas – reflects Novant Health’s commitment to leading responsibly in AI-enabled care by pairing advanced technology with real-world clinical workflows. The platform is designed to expand over time, supporting additional services as Novant Health continues to advance its systemwide AI strategy.
“Introducing Aubrey is about more than new technology – it’s about how we believe artificial intelligence should be used in healthcare to keep patients informed every step of the way,” said Sanjay Gupta, executive vice president and chief transformation officer. “Starting intentionally with surgical care allows us to focus on a high‑impact moment in the patient journey where preparation and clarity matter to ensure that patients are less stressed about what to do, when they already have other things on their mind. This creates a foundation that can expand to other services over time to help our patients get the appropriate guidance. As we continue to invest in responsible AI innovation, Aubrey will serve as a unifying platform for future use and is part of a long-term strategy to ensure innovation is guided by trust, clinical partnership and real impact for the people we serve.”
This pilot program for eligible procedures focuses on enhancing the patient experience while helping care teams streamline coordination and communications. Once a procedure is scheduled, patients may receive text messages from Aubrey with the ability to chat about important reminders and care information. Some ways Aubrey can assist patients include:
- Sending reminders about preoperative fasting and medication instructions.
- Sharing helpful details about what to expect before and after procedures.
- Helping with scheduling and connecting patients to their pre-op team.
- Providing parking information and day-of-surgery tips.
- Flagging early concerns so care teams can follow up.
Built with privacy and security at its core and in a HIPAA-compliant environment, Aubrey is a human-in-the-loop system that complements the relationship between patients and their care teams, serving as an optional, convenient and free resource for trusted Novant Health information. Patients can continue to connect with their care teams through the same trusted channels, and Aubrey is not intended for emergency situations.
For more information about Novant Health’s virtual assistant, Aubrey, visit: NovantHealth.org/Aubrey.
