Trauma Survivor Launches AI Startup to Improve Hospital Patient Experience
Dr. Galit Deshe, a 56-year-old expert in gender and trauma, has founded Ozz Health, a startup aiming to enhance the hospital experience for patients and their families through an AI-powered application named Dorothy. Drawing from her extensive background in social work and advocacy, Deshe was motivated by the profound trauma her family experienced during her brother Oz's terminal illness and death from a brain tumor. She recalls instances of miscommunication and lack of support, highlighting the emotional distress patients and their loved ones endure.
Ozz Health's application, Dorothy, integrates with hospital information systems to provide personalized, real-time information to patients throughout their hospital stay. It aims to reduce anxiety by explaining procedures, test results, and treatment plans in a way that is tailored to the individual's identity, including factors like age, gender, and background. Deshe emphasizes that the AI does not offer medical advice but rather serves as a supportive guide, helping patients feel more in control and understood.
The inspiration for Ozz Health stemmed from a conversation with a serial entrepreneur about the challenges faced by aging parents navigating the healthcare system. This resonated with Deshe's own experiences, leading her to combine her expertise in trauma and identity with technological innovation. The startup's name, Ozz, is a tribute to her late brother, and the app's name, Dorothy, references the protagonist of "The Wizard of Oz," symbolizing the journey through a complex system.
Deshe acknowledges the unconventional transition from trauma expert to tech CEO, citing her previous role managing "Power in Diversity," an initiative to increase female representation in high-tech, as a stepping stone. She learned to navigate the tech industry, recognizing her own innovative spirit. Ozz Health is currently conducting research and pilot programs in hospitals in the US and Israel, with a particular focus in Israel on supporting residents of Gaza border communities affected by trauma.
Deshe believes AI can offer a unique form of empathy by overcoming human biases and time constraints, providing consistent and sensitive support. She argues that hospitals, particularly in the US, have a financial incentive to improve patient satisfaction scores, which are tied to government grants and insurance reimbursements. Ozz Health's application is designed to be implemented without requiring additional work from hospital staff, addressing a common barrier to adopting new technologies. The company, founded in 2024, has five employees and is seeking to raise capital.
