CDC uses Microsoft’s chatbot service to create symptoms of the corona virus

The CDC has used Microsoft’s Healthcare Bot service to create a COVID-19 evaluation chatbot to screen Americans who are unsure whether to seek medical attention. The Coronavirus Self Checker bot asks a series of questions based on CDC guidelines about symptoms (such as shortness of breath or dizziness) and risk factors (such as underlying medical conditions or exposure to someone else with the virus) and suggests next steps, including whether to isolate or not, with a telecare professional or visit an emergency room.

The CDC’s chatbot provides links to more information and contacts to the local health department, but has no information about coronavirus testing sites. It also does not diagnose or provide treatment plans other than general advice such as “stay at home and take care of yourself” or “call 911”. The bot appears to be a possible way of reassuring the so-called “concerned good” that their symptoms are unlikely to require medical attention, which in turn can free doctors and emergency departments for patients who are legitimately ill with the coronavirus.

The chatbot runs on Microsoft Azure, but the CDC owns and maintains the tool and does not share personal information that users enter into the bot with Microsoft, according to Nextgov.

Chatbot versions are already online at nine health systems, with more coming soon, the Wall Street Journal reports. Healthcare provider Providence launched a limited version of the bot on March 5, which, according to the website, opened to all users on March 8 WSJ, and says the bot has had more than 40,000 sessions and more than 6,000 video conference transfers so far.

“It’s just something consumers now need to help with anxiety,” said Providence’s Maryam Gholami WSJ.