CareRoute vs. Generic AI Health Advice
When it comes to your health, safe triage matters. See how CareRoute's research‑informed, safety‑first triage compares to generic AI chatbots.
Why CareRoute Is Different
Structured Assessment Process
CareRoute uses a structured history‑taking flow to gather critical information and check red flags—asking the right questions in the right order. It guides urgency and venue (not a diagnosis).
Generic AI often relies on the user to volunteer details and may miss information that changes urgency.
Personalized to Your Situation
CareRoute considers your health context—medical history, medications, and (if shared) recent labs—to guide the safest next step and avoid out‑of‑network detours.
Generic AI may provide generalized advice that doesn't account for your situation, coverage, or care access.
Clear, Actionable Next Steps
CareRoute provides clear next steps—urgent now, soon, or routine—and what to bring to a visit, not vague generalities.
Generic AI chatbots often deliver broad information without a clear triage level or visit preparation.
Prepares You for Doctor Visits
CareRoute helps you prepare for visits—key questions to ask, information to share, and common evaluations a clinician may consider—so you arrive informed and prepared. (For awareness only; not medical orders.)
Generic AI tools rarely provide concrete visit preparation, leaving you unprepared for important healthcare conversations.
Real Case Comparison
The Case: Adolescent with Knee Pain
A 17-year-old boy sought medical advice for progressive right knee pain lasting 3 months. His pain was worse at night and during physical activity at school. He had no history of trauma or previous joint problems. Physical examination revealed knee swelling, tenderness, limited range of motion, and an abnormal gait. Laboratory tests showed elevated alkaline phosphatase (180 U/L) and ESR (80 mm/h) levels.
Final clinical outcome: a serious bone condition (tumor) confirmed by imaging (CareRoute does not diagnose).
The Comparison: We used this real case to role‑play with a generic AI chatbot and CareRoute. Each conversation started identically with only the primary symptom ("pain in the right knee"). We observed how each system gathered information and determined urgency/next steps.
CareRoute's Approach
Asked 20+ structured questions to build a complete history
Flagged abnormal lab values (alkaline phosphatase 180; ESR 80) as concerning
Identified red flags (night pain plus abnormal labs) and escalated urgency
Provided clear next steps and where to seek care (urgent in‑person evaluation)
Offered a visit‑prep checklist: key details to bring and questions to ask
Final Assessment:
"Based on your symptoms and labs, this pattern could represent a serious bone condition. Triage: urgent in‑person evaluation within 24–48 hours."
Note: CareRoute provides triage guidance, not a diagnosis.
Generic AI's Approach
Asked only a few general questions about symptoms
Initially suggested osteoarthritis as a common possibility
Only considered more serious conditions after user volunteered lab values
Provided general information without a clear triage level or next steps
Did not flag urgency early
Final Assessment:
Provided a list of possibilities (e.g., inflammatory conditions or infection) without flagging urgency or venue.
Did not recommend urgent in‑person evaluation.
A Consistent Pattern
We've observed this pattern across hundreds of diverse scenarios—from common issues like migraines and rashes to complex, multi‑symptom cases. In our benchmarks, CareRoute shows higher triage concordance and more specific next steps than generic AI chatbots. See our Symptom Checker Validation for methods and results.
Try It Yourself
Don't just take our word for it. Download CareRoute free and compare triage with any generic AI chatbot using your own health questions. Notice how CareRoute asks targeted questions, checks red flags, and provides clear next steps rather than generic information.
Research & Validation
For methods, datasets, and results, see our Symptom Checker Validation page.
CareRoute provides information to help you decide where to seek care. It is not a diagnosis or treatment and does not replace advice from a licensed clinician. If you think you're experiencing an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.