BOSTON, February 19, 2026 – athenahealth, a leading provider of network-enabled healthcare services, has announced the introduction of its next-generation AI-native patient engagement tools within its flagship athenaOne® platform. These advanced capabilities aim to transform how patients and healthcare practices interact, offering more efficient communication and streamlined administrative workflows.
The updated suite introduces innovative text and voice communication tools designed to simplify patient-provider interactions. Patients will now have 24/7 access to virtual assistants that can handle routine inquiries and appointment scheduling, all seamlessly integrated into athenaOne workflows. These enhancements aim to improve the patient experience while reducing the administrative burden on healthcare staff.
"Patient–provider communication still operates much like it did decades ago, and that model can't scale in today's environment as practices get busier", said Paul Brient, chief product and operations officer at athenahealth. "Our AI assistants can handle these routine interactions reliably, reducing unnecessary work and making the system more dependable for both patients and care teams."
Key Features of the New Tools
Patient Conversations
The centerpiece of the update is a conversational AI feature offering both text and voice functionalities. The text feature, currently in alpha testing and slated for wider availability in the first half of this year, uses real-time two-way texting and secure web chat to address common patient queries. Patients can seamlessly transition to human staff for further assistance if needed, retaining the context of their interaction. The voice feature, expected in the second half of the year, will act as a virtual front desk assistant, providing multilingual support for inbound calls and handling routine requests without delays. Future enhancements will include real-time language translation and intelligent task automation to maximize efficiency.
"These new text and voice conversation capabilities will transform how we connect with patients by providing instant responses that speed issue resolution and save valuable time", said Lesley Terry, practice manager at Red River Family Practice in Austin, Texas. "For our practice, these tools will reduce phone call volume and backlog by allowing us to handle conversations promptly without putting patients on hold. Overall, this is transformative for both patient convenience and practice workflow."
Waitlist Scheduling
A new waitlist scheduling feature, available in the first half of this year, will use AI to identify open appointment slots due to cancellations. Patients will be notified via text message to fill these gaps, enhancing access to care and ensuring more efficient use of clinician schedules.
Intelligent Patient Assistant
Set to launch in the second half of this year, the intelligent assistant will be integrated into athenahealth’s patient portal and athenaPatient mobile app. This feature will help patients reschedule appointments, check payment balances, and better understand their medical records, reducing common inquiries to practice staff.
Enhanced Patient Self-Scheduling
Also expected later this year, the self-scheduling feature will allow patients to book appointments by describing their needs in plain language. The system will analyze this input to match patients with the appropriate provider, appointment type, and time slot, improving scheduling accuracy and convenience.
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A Broader Vision for AI in Healthcare
These updates reflect athenahealth’s continued investment in embedding artificial intelligence across its suite of clinical, patient engagement, and administrative solutions. By prioritizing AI-driven innovations, the company aims to make healthcare more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered.
For nearly three decades, athenahealth has been a leader in advancing healthcare technology. The company connects providers, payers, and patients, creating an ecosystem designed to deliver high-quality, sustainable care. As part of its ongoing mission, athenahealth’s latest tools underscore the potential for AI to modernize and enhance the healthcare experience for millions of Americans.
