Rethinking AI’s role in patient communication

As generative AI grows more sophisticated, it is tempting to imagine a future where it replaces clinicians entirely. But that’s not the role we think it’s meant to play in healthcare.

Instead, we see AI as an emerging behind-the-scenes collaborator.

This type of AI use case supports clinicians by drafting messages, suggesting language, and helping manage patient communication at scale.

This kind of support doesn’t replace the clinician’s voice; it enhances it. And in women’s health, where trust, empathy, and clarity are non-negotiable, that enhancement isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

Recent research from Stanford Medicine evaluated how large language models (LLMs) can support clinicians by drafting responses to patient portal messages.

The verdict?

AI didn’t necessarily save physicians time, but it did help make their responses longer, clearer, and more compassionate. For many clinicians, these drafts became helpful starting points rather than shortcuts.

This reflects a broader truth: AI doesn’t have to solve everything to be valuable.

Sometimes, its greatest strength is elevating the care that already exists by augmenting human empathy, not replacing it.

Patients Want Quality, but Trust is Fragile

A related study published in JAMA Network Open found that patients preferred the content of AI-generated messages to those written solely by clinicians.

But satisfaction dropped when they were told the messages were written by AI. In other words, the message mattered less than who they believed wrote it.

This finding underscores a deeper tension: the more transparent we are about AI, the more we risk undermining the trust we’re trying to build.

Yet transparency is ethically essential. So, how do we move forward?

Reframing Disclosure and Design

This is not a binary question of AI or no AI. It’s a design challenge.

The most effective approaches may involve co-branded messages, where clinicians remain central but AI support is acknowledged in a subtle, supportive way:

“This message was prepared by your care team with the help of digital tools to ensure timely and thoughtful communication.”

Clinicians must always remain in the loop, reviewing, personalising, and signing off on what patients receive. This isn’t about automation at the expense of connection.

It’s about using AI to support the fundamentals of good care: clear information, thoughtful tone, and meaningful context.

What This Means for FemTech

The stakes are high in women’s health. From fertility and birth control to postpartum support and menopause care, women want to feel heard, not routed.

That’s why the next wave of FemTech must go beyond automation. It should reflect the nuance of the care experience, using AI to empower—not replace—the human voice.

Tools like generative AI can surface medical insights, standardize follow-up, and even soften complex information.

But the best solutions will always be designed to serve the patient experience, not just efficiency metrics.

One UC San Diego study found that AI-assisted responses helped clinicians, who are often short on time, adopt a more empathetic tone.

And in a digital-first healthcare landscape, that might be the most powerful feature of all.

Looking Ahead

As AI becomes more embedded in portals, inboxes, and interfaces, we must ask what it can do and how it should behave.

This is the moment to co-design systems that center on care, trust, and transparency, especially for populations historically underserved by traditional healthcare models.

In the world of FemTech, this means creating AI that listens carefully, explains clearly, and never forgets the human on the other side of the screen.

Morgan Rose is a Certified Nurse Midwife, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant with over a decade of experience supporting women’s health. As the Chief Science Officer at Ema, Morgan combines her expertise with her passion for empowering women. She lives in New York City with her spunky daughter and their beloved dog.