This AI UPGRADE Showcase spotlights companies that aren’t just implementing AI – they’re fundamentally reinventing their industries with it. These organizations show us what happens when you stop treating AI as just another tech tool and start using it as your core business strategy.
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🔍 The Innovation Snapshot
⇒ Company: Vital
⇒ Founded: 2017
⇒ Sector: Healthcare Technology
⇒ AI Application: Medical jargon translation and patient communication
⇒ The Big Idea: Use AI to make complex medical information understandable to everyone
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The Problem AI Solved in Healthcare
Have you ever stared at your medical test results like they were written in hieroglyphics?
We’ve all been there.
The doctor says you have “epistaxis” and you nod along… only to frantically Google “what is epistaxis” in the parking lot (it’s a nosebleed, by the way).
This gap between medical speak and human speak isn’t just annoying – it’s dangerous.
When patients don’t understand their diagnosis or treatment plan, they can’t make informed decisions. They miss follow-up appointments. They take medications incorrectly. They get anxious about minor issues while potentially overlooking major ones.
And with the 21st Century Cures Act requiring providers to release all medical notes to patients, millions of people are now receiving complex medical terminology they can’t understand. It’s like getting an important letter written in a language you’ve never studied.
Vital’s AI-First Approach to Patient Communication
This is where Vital’s story gets exciting.
They didn’t just bolt some AI onto existing healthcare processes and call it innovation. They went “AI First” by completely reimagining patient communication from the ground up.
Founded by Aaron Patzer (the same mind behind Mint.com) and emergency physician Dr. Justin Schrager, Vital built an AI-powered Doctor-to-Patient Translator that transforms complex medical jargon into plain, 5th-grade reading level language that anyone can understand.
Their system isn’t just a fancy find-and-replace tool. This is:
- A sophisticated AI that uses large language models and natural language processing to comprehend medical context, preserving critical information while making it accessible to non-medical people.
It’s like having that nurse friend who can explain exactly what your lab results mean in terms that actually make sense – except it’s available 24/7 and never gets tired of your questions.
Applying the Focus Filter: Prioritizing the Right Opportunity
With countless ways to apply AI in healthcare, Vital didn’t get distracted.
They leveraged the Focus Filter to identify a specific, high-ROI problem where AI could deliver massive value: the communication gap between medical professionals and patients.
Why this worked:
- Affected millions of patients
- Had measurable impact on health outcomes
- Was perfectly suited for AI’s language capabilities
- Could generate immediate value for both patients and healthcare systems
Remember: you’ll always miss the right opportunity if you’re distracted by the wrong one.
Vital’s laser focus allowed them to create something transformative rather than just another healthcare app.
3 Reasons Vital’s AI Strategy Works
Vital’s approach delivers three game-changing wins:
- Clearer patient understanding – Medical information becomes accessible to everyone, not just those with medical backgrounds
- Reduced anxiety – Clear explanations reduce the stress that comes with medical uncertainty
- Improved health outcomes – Patients who understand their care plans are more likely to follow them correctly
The results speak volumes.
A panel of physicians evaluated nearly 2,000 translations from their system and found an astounding 99.4% were deemed safe and accurate. That’s better reliability than many human translations!
This isn’t just a small enhancement – it’s transformational.
By 2023, Vital had already reached over one million users, partnered with more than 100 hospitals and 31 health systems nationwide, including major players like Allina Health, CommonSpirit Health and Emory Healthcare.
The Business Impact of AI-Driven Health Communication
Vital’s traction is proof that doing one thing exceptionally well creates momentum:
- Secured $24.7 million in Series B funding in March 2023
- Total funding now exceeds $40 million
- Expanded from emergency departments into inpatient care
- Built an integrated platform that hospitals are eager to adopt
- Created a free translator tool that serves as a powerful lead generation strategy
Remember the Blockbuster vs. Netflix story?
This is healthcare’s version. Traditional patient communication is Blockbuster, still using impenetrable medical terminology while Vital is streaming simple, personalized health information directly to patients when and where they need it.
Deploying AI in Stages (Not at Scale)
Vital’s growth didn’t happen overnight.
They scaled intentionally, showcasing the “Deploy in Stages” principle from UPGRADE.
Their strategy:
- Started focused – Initially targeting emergency departments where information clarity is crucial
- Prove success — Nail the use case
- Expand thoughtfully – Added inpatient care solutions after proving emergency success
- Built integration – Created smooth workflows with existing electronic health records
- Released public version – Launched a free translator tool that both helps patients and drives awareness
This staged approach allowed them to refine their AI, build hospital partnerships, and create sustainable growth.
You don’t scale speed. You scale structure.
And Vital built its foundation brick by brick.
Your AI UPGRADE Opportunity
You don’t need to be in healthcare to extract the AI gold from Vital’s playbook.
Here’s your actionable takeaway:
- Apply the Focus Filter: What complex, jargon-filled process in your industry creates friction for your customers? (Remember: you’ll always miss the right opportunity if you’re distracted by the wrong one.)
- Go AI First: Don’t just add AI to your existing processes – reimagine your entire customer experience with AI at its core.
- Deploy in Stages: Start with one high-impact application and expand strategically. (You don’t scale speed – you scale structure.)
Ready to Translate Complexity into Clarity?
The companies that’ll crush it tomorrow aren’t just using AI as a feature – they’re leading with it as a strategy.
And they’re not using it to replace humans – they’re using it to enhance human understanding and connection.
What complex information in your business could be transformed with AI translation?
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This is part of our AI UPGRADE Showcase series. For more on implementing the UPGRADE Framework in your business, check out our resources or book a strategy session. Let’s turn AI potential into business performance.
