Brief news summary

Scientists at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center have partnered with tech company MyndYou to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system, named MyEleanor, to assist with patient outreach for colonoscopy screening appointments. The AI system calls patients who missed or canceled their appointments, and aims to transfer them to a human navigator or guide them through a survey to understand why they missed the appointment. The results showed that MyEleanor doubled the completion rate for colonoscopy among this group of patients. The scientists emphasized that the AI system is not intended to replace human navigators, but rather to supplement their work and provide additional support. This technology has the potential to improve engagement with vulnerable communities for cancer prevention and reduce health disparities between low-income communities and communities of color. The researchers also plan to expand the use of MyEleanor to other cancer prevention programs.