Pluto Health and Help.AI announced a significant partnership on November 13, 2025, aimed at improving surgical outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. The collaboration will introduce a new preoperative readiness service called ValumeTM, designed to enhance surgical evaluations and streamline care coordination for both clinicians and patients.
This innovative service will leverage Pluto Health’s AI-enabled care coordination capabilities in conjunction with Help.AI’s Surgical Population Management (SPMTM) platform. The goal is to address the fragmented nature of preoperative care, which currently accounts for nearly 30% of healthcare spending in the United States, totaling over $900 billion annually.
Despite the substantial financial investment in surgical care, preoperative processes remain inconsistent and often lead to delays in procedures. Patients frequently navigate a complex web of clinicians without complete access to their health histories or necessary test results. Such fragmentation can culminate in last-minute cancellations and prolonged hospital stays, adversely affecting patient outcomes and healthcare costs.
The partnership aims to create a seamless experience for patients by employing smart automation and real-time care coordination. The integrated platform will facilitate efficient preoperative screening and risk identification, ultimately saving approximately $5,000 per surgical case.
Through this collaboration, clinicians will benefit from enhanced capabilities, including:
– Early identification of high-risk patients using AI.
– Insights into modifiable risks and existing diagnostics that can be reused.
– Access to virtual agent-powered intake and navigation tools, reducing manual tasks.
– Continuous engagement with patients throughout the perioperative and preventive care continuum.
As a result, payers, clinicians, and employers can enhance access to essential preoperative tests while minimizing unnecessary procedures. This approach ensures that patients feel prepared and satisfied throughout their surgical journey.
Dr. Joy Bhosai, CEO of Pluto Health and former Assistant Professor of Hospital Medicine at Duke University, commented on the partnership. “Surgeries are delayed and cancelled at the last minute due to lack of access to timeline information, completed procedures, and inefficient assessments that could have been managed weeks earlier or even in real-time. Inefficiencies in timely pre-op preparation can lead to delays and worse outcomes for patients. By integrating with Help.AI’s SPMTM, we are enabling smarter, faster, and more connected care.”
Dr. Perrin Jones, founder of Help.AI, emphasized the significance of their integrated offering. “Our SPMTM platform, now enhanced with Pluto’s AI-powered infrastructure, represents a turning point in how health systems can proactively manage risk, reduce costs, and drive better outcomes at scale.”
This partnership signifies a proactive approach to not only improving surgical processes but also enhancing overall population health. By addressing the entire patient journey, it aims to prevent chronic complications and establish a model for scalable, AI-supported value-based care.
Help.AI specializes in redefining perioperative care through its SPMTM platform, which automates evaluations, integrates clinical records, and guides decision-making for surgical teams. By aligning clinical, operational, and financial incentives, Help.AI aims to minimize delays and complications while providing measurable returns on investment.
Pluto Health, a spin-out from Duke University, focuses on connecting individuals with necessary healthcare services. By bridging AI technology and health services, Pluto Health seeks to unify health information from disparate sources and recommend optimal next steps for patients efficiently.
This partnership between Pluto Health and Help.AI represents a significant advancement in the surgical care landscape, promising improved efficiency and enhanced patient experiences.
