Improving communication in patient referrals using AI technology
Official title: Closing the loop with an automatic referral population and summarization system
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11075307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a smart system that helps doctors share important information about patients more easily when they need to see a specialist, so patients can get better care without any confusion.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $657,204 |
| NIH project number | 5R01LM014306-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11075307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who require referrals to specialists and are experiencing challenges with the current referral process.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require specialist referrals or those whose care does not involve complex information transfer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the referral process between primary care providers and specialists by developing an automated system that utilizes artificial intelligence. By leveraging deep learning and natural language processing, the project seeks to extract relevant information from electronic health records and generate concise summaries for referrals. This approach addresses the common issue of ineffective information transfer during patient care transitions, ultimately aiming to improve care coordination and patient outcomes. Patients may benefit from a more streamlined referral process that ensures their medical history and needs are clearly communicated.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved communication in patient referrals, resulting in better care coordination and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using AI and NLP technologies to improve healthcare communication, indicating a promising approach in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peng, Yifan — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Peng, Yifan
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.