Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in healthcare. Patients are now walking into appointments with AI-generated summaries, second opinions, and treatment questions already in hand.

To understand what this shift means for independent and small-group private practices, Tebra surveyed 803 Americans and 211 healthcare providers in February 2026 to explore how ChatGPT is influencing care decisions on both sides of the exam room.

Patients are turning to AI tools (CDC.gov & Generative AI) before, during, and even after appointments, reshaping digital intake, visit preparation, and follow-up conversations. This shift is changing how people prepare for visits, process medical information, and make care decisions.

These new behaviors directly affect digital intake, care coordination, and follow-up workflows in independent practices, especially where staff are already stretched thin.

For independent practices, this trust gap is an opportunity to guide how AI is used, reinforcing the clinician’s role while offering patients safe, curated digital tools.

ChatGPT Health is an emerging version of ChatGPT designed to support health-related questions, education, and care navigation (Congressional Research Service overview of AI in health care). It aims to provide more structured, healthcare-focused guidance for tasks like understanding diagnoses, preparing questions for appointments, and reviewing treatment information.

As interest grows, private practices may increasingly encounter patients who are using it as part of their care experience.

As these tools evolve, practices will need clear policies on when and how clinicians and staff can use AI so they can realize the benefits without introducing new risks, in line with national efforts to govern health AI safely (HHS Artificial Intelligence Strategy & Implementation).

Providers are weighing both the benefits and risks (rapid review of generative AI in health communication and public health) as they respond in real time to AI-informed patients, including implications for staffing capacity, front-desk workflows, and clinical documentation in the EHR. Their perspectives reveal where ChatGPT may support care, where it may create friction, and how private practices can prepare for what comes next.

AI is now part of the patient journey, whether providers invite it in or not. For private practices, the opportunity lies in setting clear expectations and leading the conversation. Consider:

When these steps are built into existing intake, messaging, and documentation workflows, practices can manage AI-related conversations without adding more manual work for staff.

These actions can help maintain clinical authority while strengthening patient-provider trust. When practices have a structured approach to AI-informed discussions, providers can reduce confusion, protect patient safety (AMA Principles for Augmented Intelligence), and position themselves as expert guides.

Tebra conducted two surveys to explore how Americans are using ChatGPT for health-related purposes and how healthcare providers are responding to this shift in patient behavior.

Patient survey: Tebra surveyed 803 Americans about their use of ChatGPT for health-related tasks. The generational breakdown was Gen Z (21%), Millennials (49%), Gen X (22%), and Baby Boomers (8%).

Provider survey: Tebra surveyed 211 healthcare providers about their experiences with patients bringing ChatGPT-generated health information into appointments, their assessment of AI accuracy, and their views on integrating ChatGPT into clinical workflows.

Data was collected in February 2026.

Tebra, headquartered in Southern California, empowers independent healthcare practices with cutting-edge AI and automation to drive growth, streamline care, and boost efficiency. Our all-in-one EHR and billing platform delivers everything you need to attract and engage your patients, including online scheduling, reputation management, and digital communications.

Inspired by "vertebrae," our name embodies our mission to be the backbone of healthcare success. With over 165,000 providers and 190 million patient records, Tebra is redefining healthcare through innovation and a commitment to customer success. We're not just optimizing operations — we're ensuring private practices thrive.

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