Cottage Health is partnering with a health technology company to use artificial intelligence tools designed to help expand clinical capacity and support patient care.

The Santa Barbara-based nonprofit health system announced a strategic innovation partnership with Thesis Care, marking the company’s first partnership with a health system. 

Through the collaboration, Cottage will deploy Thesis’ AI-powered care team agents in care management and clinical operations. The company, founded in 2024 in New York, develops AI-powered care team platforms for health organizations.

Cottage officials said the technology is intended to support — not replace — clinical teams by helping manage routine but time-intensive tasks. The AI tools will work alongside health care professionals to assist with patient engagement, follow-up and other care management workflows.

According to Thesis, its platform uses AI agents combined with oversight from expert clinicians to complete clinical tasks within existing health system systems and processes. At Cottage, the initial focus will be helping ensure patients receive follow-up guidance, understand next steps in their care plans and address potential gaps in care.

“We’re always looking for ways to do more for our patients and communities,” said Kevin Davidson, Cottage Health vice president of ambulatory services and network development. “At Cottage, delivering world-class care means pairing clinical excellence with innovation.”

Davidson said Thesis stood out for its ability to complete clinical work with expert oversight while expanding the capacity of care teams.

Cottage Health operates hospitals in Santa Barbara, Goleta and the Santa Ynez Valley and is home to the Central Coast’s only Level I adult trauma center. The health system includes more than 700 physicians and reported more than 20,000 inpatient admissions in the past year.

The partnership comes as health systems nationwide explore ways to use artificial intelligence to address staffing pressures, improve efficiency and help clinicians manage growing demands.

“Organizations like Cottage Health are leading the way in finding new approaches to deliver exceptional care and patient experiences,” said Niren Gandra, M.D., CEO and co-founder of Thesis.

Lisa André covers lifestyle and local news for the Santa Ynez Valley News and Lompoc Record, editions of the Santa Maria Times. She can be reached at landre@syvnews.com