Teletherapy company Talkspace announced the formation of an AI Innovation Group to improve provider efficiency while ensuring responsible and ethical use of AI in the platform.

The group includes all Talkspace personnel and is led by Talkspace's general manager of AI, Michael Rodio, and the company's AI project manager, Katie McCrudden. 

Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi, Talkspace's chief medical officer, Mary Potter, chief compliance officer, chief privacy officer and chief information security officer, and Gil Margolin, chief technology officer, also participate in the group. 

The first feature launched from the endeavor is "smart notes," which generates notes of a session between a provider and a Talkspace member, while integrating clinical insights according to an individual's treatment plan. 

“The smart notes feature and all of the features we develop as part of our newly-formed AI Innovation Group are intended to be a value-add for our providers," Rodio told MobiHealthNews in an email.

"Smart notes also help ensure a quality note by incorporating documentation like the client’s unique treatment plan. The provider then reviews the draft, checking it over or adding more detail when relevant. The provider retains the control: that’s a cornerstone of our clinically-led development.”

THE LARGER TREND

Talkspace launched a Behavioral Health Consortium in April to refer insured members with high-acuity needs to in-network specialty-care providers for alcoholism, substance use and eating disorder treatments. 

The network included virtual opioid use treatment company Bicycle Health, outpatient mental health support company Charlie Health and alcohol use treatment organization Ria Health. 

The company initially partnered with Bicycle Health in February to expand access to virtual care for patients of both companies. 

Through the partnership, Talkspace patients have access to specialty care for opioid use disorder, and Bicycle Health patients can connect with therapists and mental health providers in areas outside of substance use disorder.

Earlier this year, the telehealth platform Wheel added Talkspace to its virtual care platform, and Talkspace and telemedicine company Thirty Madison teamed up to launch mental health offerings for Thirty Madison’s reproductive health platform Nurx and migraine-focused offering Cove. 

The HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum is scheduled to take place September 5-6 in Boston. Learn more and register.