Cracking the Code on Patient Engagement: Conversational AI with Dan Fox

RealPharma: Conversations with Pharma Pathfinders

🎙️ RealPharma Podcast – Episode Title:
"Cracking the Code on Patient Engagement: Conversational AI with Dan Fox"

🗓️ Release Date: May 5, 2025
🎧 Hosts: Dr. Na-Ri Oh & Ian Wendt
🎤 Guest: Dan Fox, Managing Director of Healthcare at Drips

Episode Summary:

In this eye-opening episode, we welcome Dan Fox, a trailblazer in AI-powered patient communication, to explore how proactive outreach and conversational AI are reshaping healthcare engagement. As the Managing Director of Healthcare at Drips, Dan shares how his team is using SMS-based AI to boost patient adherence, improve outcomes, and build trust—even in the face of complex compliance and tech fluency challenges.

From personalized text reminders that get 60–80% response rates to thoughtful strategies for integrating AI without sacrificing patient experience, Dan takes us deep into what’s working (and what’s not) in healthcare communication today. Plus, he shares what excites him most about the future—including AI therapists, ambient scribes, and closing the tech adoption gap in health systems.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

• Why “attention” is the biggest communication challenge in healthcare

• How AI-driven SMS is outperforming traditional channels like email and mail

• Real-world outcomes: 4.1% improvement in national medication adherence rates

• Navigating regulatory complexity with Drips' proprietary “rules engine”

• Why many healthcare orgs use “compliance” as a crutch against innovation

• Texting seniors? Yes—it works (and they even say “thank you, sweetie” ❤️)

• The future of AI in healthcare: from virtual triage to AI therapists

🧠 Notable Quotes:

“We’re not using generative AI in our consumer outreach—because every single word needs to be approved. But we use AI to scale natural conversations.” – Dan Fox

“Trust is everything. We use personalization and omnichannel context to build it—one message at a time.” – Dan Fox

“We don’t want PHI. We just want to start the right conversation.” – Dan Fox

📘 Resources Mentioned:

• Drips.com – Learn more about their AI-powered engagement solutions

• CMS Star Ratings: Why medication adherence matters

• Companies like RxAnte mentioned for rules-based healthcare targeting

📩 Connect with Dan Fox:

• Website: drips.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsweeneyfox/

• Role: Healthcare Strategy Lead

🎧 How to Listen:

Available wherever you get your podcasts—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and more.