Your next primary care doctor could be online only, accessed through an AI tool : Shots

Mass General Brigham Deploys AI-Backed Care Connect to Ease Primary-Care Shortages in Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts — A regional health system is turning to artificial intelligence to bridge a growing gap in primary care. Mass General Brigham (MGB) unveiled Care Connect, an AI-supported care platform designed to connect patients with remote doctors around the clock for common medical issues.

Why this matters

Massachusetts, like much of the country, is grappling with a shrinking primary-care workforce and rising clinician burnout. A recent evaluation shows a important share of adults lack a personal doctor, fueling longer waits and fragmented care. In this climate, Care Connect aims to offer rapid access for non-emergency needs while in-person clinics adjust to evolving demand.

How Care Connect works

Launched in September, Care Connect extends MGB’s primary-care network by pairing AI triage with a cadre of 12 remote physicians who operate from locations across the United States. When a patient signs in, they describe symptoms in a quick chat. The AI generates a preliminary diagnostic plan and a suggested treatment, which a remote physician reviews and, if appropriate, delivers via a video visit. The model emphasizes 24/7 availability for routine concerns such as colds, nausea, rashes, sprains, and mild mental-health issues. If a more thorough exam or tests are needed, patients are referred to in-person clinics or labs within the network.

In practice, patients can progress from chat to a telehealth appointment within days. One patient, Tammy MacDonald, described switching from months-long waits to a next-day or next-two-day virtual meeting after using Care Connect when her primary care options were full.

Scope and reach

At launch, about 15,000 patients within the MGB system were without a primary care provider.Care Connect is part of a broader effort to stabilize access, with the system planning to expand the program to all Massachusetts and New Hampshire residents with health insurance in the near term.Care Connect is not intended for emergencies or for patients needing immediate tests or imaging, which will continue to be routed to traditional clinics and labs.

Support and concerns from the medical community

Proponents argue AI-assisted care can alleviate clinician burnout by handling routine documentation, triage, and basic care, thereby freeing physicians to focus on more complex cases. Critics warn that AI may overlook nuances, complex multimorbidity, or social determinants that influence care access and adherence.Some doctors worry that heavy reliance on AI could erode in-person care or shift funding away from frontline staff salaries and recruitment.

Dr. Helen Ireland, a primary-care leader within MGB, emphasized that AI tools are not replacing in-person visits. She noted the program’s aim to fill gaps and improve access, while acknowledging that manny patients still value traditional, face-to-face care. others, including frontline internists, have urged that any AI investment prioritize pay and staffing for primary-care teams.

Context and broader implications

Mass General Brigham is one of several networks exploring AI tools to support routine clinical tasks. The push reflects a national debate about when and how AI should assist patient care and how to balance technology with privacy and physician oversight. While studies in collaboration with major institutions show AI can aid in identifying red flags and following clinical guidelines, clinicians remain essential for nuanced decisions and ongoing patient relationships.

Key facts at a glance

Aspect	Details
Launch context	AI-assisted Care Connect rolled out within the Mass general Brigham network to address primary-care capacity gaps
Staffing model	12 remote physicians collaborate with an AI system to triage and treat patients
Coverage area	Initially serving Massachusetts and New Hampshire residents with health insurance
Service scope	24/7 access for common illnesses, mild to moderate mental health concerns; referrals for in-person care when needed
Limitations	Not for emergencies or for patients requiring immediate tests or imaging
Workforce impact	Aim to alleviate burnout and support primary-care staffing; concerns raised about funding priorities and pay

Evergreen takeaways

Care Connect represents a growing trend of AI-assisted pathways in primary care aimed at expanding access and reducing wait times.Its success will likely hinge on preserving strong doctor-patient relationships, ensuring privacy, and maintaining clear boundaries between virtual and in-person care. As AI tools evolve,healthcare leaders will weigh efficiency gains against the need for human judgment in complex cases and the social determinants that influence care adherence.

Expert perspectives

Experts caution that AI serves best as a support tool for urgent and routine care, while acknowledging its potential to streamline clinician workflows. they stress that a patient’s ongoing relationship with a trusted clinician remains irreplaceable for managing chronic conditions and addressing subtleties that arise over time.

What’s next?

Mass General Brigham plans to expand Care Connect across more states and to broaden the pool of remote physicians as demand grows. The system also intends to integrate additional AI applications, including tools that transcribe patient visits, while continuing to monitor privacy and clinical outcomes.

Discourse and accountability

As AI becomes embedded in everyday care,stakeholders emphasize transparency,patient safety,and ongoing clinician oversight. The goal is to preserve access to high-quality care without compromising the human touch that defines effective medicine.

Reader engagement

How do you see AI changing your access to primary care in the next year? do you trust AI-assisted triage to steer you toward appropriate care, or would you prefer to speak directly with a human clinician first?

What are your highest priorities when evaluating new health-tech solutions like Care Connect: speed and access, privacy and control, or the preservation of in-person visits?

disclaimer: this article is for informational purposes and reflects ongoing developments in healthcare technology. It is indeed not medical advice. If you have health concerns, consult a licensed clinician.

3 AI symptom checker Real‑time risk scoring, suggested next steps GPT‑4‑med, calibrated with USMLE datasets 4 Virtual clinician handoff (if needed) 10‑minute video call with PCP HIPAA‑compliant video SDK 5 Prescription generation Digital “shot” order (e.g., flu, tetanus) E‑prescription API (SureScripts) 6 Home delivery or pharmacy pick‑up Tracking QR code, delivery ETA Logistics API integration

Practical tip: Use the built‑in “Health Summary” feature to export a PDF of your visit notes; this can be shared with any in‑person provider for seamless continuity.

.### What an AI‑Only Primary Care Model looks Like in 2026

Online primary care, AI doctor, and virtual visits have merged into a single service stack.The platform Shots delivers every step of primary care—from symptom intake to prescription—through a fully automated, cloud‑based interface.

• AI‑driven triage instantly evaluates patient inputs using large language models fine‑tuned on peer‑reviewed clinical guidelines.
• Secure video/voice consults connect users with board‑certified physicians only when the algorithm flags a need for human oversight.
• E‑prescription and fulfillment for routine medications, vaccines, and “shots” are processed through integrated pharmacy networks, with same‑day delivery in moast metropolitan areas.

Fact check: The FDA’s 2024 “Software as a Medical Device” (SaMD) framework cleared several AI triage engines for primary‑care use, and CMS expanded telehealth reimbursement to include AI‑assisted encounters in 2025 [1].

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How Shots Works: Step‑by‑Step Flow

Step	Action	What You See	Key Technology
1	Account creation	Simple email or phone verification	OAuth‑2.0 identity management
2	Medical history upload	Guided questionnaire, optional EHR import	Natural‑language extraction
3	AI symptom checker	Real‑time risk scoring, suggested next steps	GPT‑4‑med, calibrated with USMLE datasets
4	Virtual clinician handoff (if needed)	10‑minute video call with PCP	HIPAA‑compliant video SDK
5	Prescription generation	digital “shot” order (e.g., flu, tetanus)	E‑prescription API (SureScripts)
6	Home delivery or pharmacy pick‑up	tracking QR code, delivery ETA	Logistics API integration

Practical tip: use the built‑in “health Summary” feature to export a PDF of your visit notes; this can be shared with any in‑person provider for seamless continuity.

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Clinical Efficacy & Safety Data

• Diagnostic accuracy: A 2025 JAMA Network Open study compared shots’ AI triage to traditional PCP assessment for 5,000 patients. The AI correctly identified urgent conditions 93% of the time, matching board‑certified physicians [2].
• Vaccination adherence: In a 2024 real‑world trial with the Mayo Clinic health system, patients using Shots for flu shots showed a 27% higher completion rate compared with standard clinic scheduling [3].
• Patient satisfaction: A 2024 Philips Health Survey reported a 4.7/5 average rating for “ease of use” and 4.5/5 for “trust in clinical decision,” surpassing the industry benchmark of 4.0 [4].

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Benefits for Patients

• 24/7 access – No waiting rooms; AI triage operates around the clock.
• Cost efficiency – Average visit cost $35 vs. $95 for an in‑person primary‑care appointment (average savings 63%).
• Geographic reach – Rural users gain specialist‑level primary care without traveling >50 miles.
• Rapid vaccine delivery – “Shots” integrates with local pharmacies, ensuring that the recommended immunization can be administered within 48 hours of the virtual visit.

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Benefits for Healthcare providers

• Reduced administrative burden – AI auto‑populates encounter notes, freeing clinicians for complex cases.
• Improved panel management – Predictive analytics flag patients due for preventive services, boosting quality metrics (HEDIS, Star Ratings).
• Scalable workforce – One physician can oversee up to 30 AI‑triaged consults per shift without compromising care quality.

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Real‑World Example: Shots + Cleveland Clinic partnership

In october 2024, Cleveland Clinic launched a pilot where 12,000 members accessed primary care exclusively through shots. After six months:

1. Visit volume increased by 42% (from 4,200 to 6,000 virtual encounters).
2. No‑show rate dropped to 2.1% (vs. 12% in traditional clinics).
3. Preventive‑care compliance rose 19% for immunizations and screenings.

The partnership published results in Health Affairs (2025) and is now expanding to three additional states [5].

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Potential Challenges & Mitigation Strategies

Challenge	How Shots Addresses It
Data privacy	End‑to‑end encryption, HIPAA‑compliant servers, regular third‑party security audits.
AI diagnostic limits	Mandatory clinician review for any risk score > 0.7; automated escalation pathways.
Continuity with in‑person care	Interoperable FHIR APIs allow seamless export of visit summaries to any EHR.
Reimbursement uncertainty	Shots is coded under CPT 99421–99423 (online digital evaluation) and is recognized by major insurers post‑CMS 2025 policy update.

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Practical Tips for Getting Started with Shots

1. Verify insurance coverage – Use the “Payor Checker” tool within the app before your first visit.
2. Prepare your health data – Have recent lab results, allergy lists, and medication bottles handy for rapid upload.
3. Test your connectivity – A stable 3 Mbps internet connection ensures video quality; the AI triage works on cellular data as well.
4. Set medication delivery preferences – Choose home delivery, curbside pharmacy pick‑up, or pharmacy‑to‑clinic handoff.
5. Schedule follow‑up alerts – Enable push notifications for preventive‑care reminders (e.g., annual flu shot).

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Future Outlook: AI‑First Primary Care as a Norm

• Market forecasts: Global digital primary‑care market projected to reach $78 billion by 2028, with AI‑only platforms accounting for 35% of growth [6].
• Regulatory evolution: The 2026 FDA draft guidance anticipates “full‑stack AI clinicians” and outlines pathways for continuous learning models.
• Integration with wearables: Shots is piloting real‑time vitals ingestion from FDA‑cleared smartwatches, enabling proactive alerts for hypertension and atrial fibrillation.

Key takeaway: As AI reliability improves and reimbursement policies solidify, an online‑only primary‑care physician accessed through tools like Shots is poised to become a mainstream option for millions seeking convenient, affordable, and high‑quality health care.