#68 -Building Trust with Safe AI: The Future of Hybrid Virtual Physical Therapy with Dr. Ashok Gupta

What does it take to build a compliant, clinician-friendly, and patient-centered virtual care platform in a highly regulated field like physical therapy? In this episode of Telemedicine Talks, hosts Phoebe Gutierrez and Leo Damasco welcome Dr. Ashok Gupta, founder of TheraNow. Ashok shares his evolution from treating patients at the VA and in rural America to building a hybrid tele-physical therapy platform that integrates deeply with hospital systems and EHRs like Epic. The conversation explores the realities of telehealth adoption pre and post-pandemic, the importance of hybrid (omnichannel) care models, and thoughtful AI integration. Ashok provides real-world examples of safe AI use cases  including computer vision for movement tracking, context-aware ambient listening scribes, and AI-powered clinician training/feedback tools ,while stressing patient safety, avoiding hallucinations, maintaining human oversight, and building transparent, accountable systems. Listeners will gain practical insights on regulatory navigation, deep workflow integration, equity/accessibility features, and why starting with clinician and patient needs leads to better outcomes and sustainable businesses in digital health. Top 3 Takeaways: Hybrid & Omnichannel Wins: Pure virtual models often struggle in physical medicine. Success comes from hybrid care that complements in-person services, deep EHR integrations and flexible visit options that fit patient and system needs. Safe, Accountable AI First: AI should augment clinicians, not replace them. Use contextual prompts, real-time review, evidence-backed scoring, larger context windows, and human-in-the-loop workflows. Examples include ambient scribes with prior session context and AI feedback tools that show exact evidence instead of just scores. Patient & Compliance Focus Pays Off: Build for equity (interpreters, ADA), accessibility, and parity with brick-and-mortar care. Deep integrations, risk-averse design, and clinician involvement from day one help navigate regulations and create scalable, trusted platforms. About the Show: Telemedicine Talks explores the evolving world of digital health, helping physicians navigate new opportunities, regulatory challenges, and career transitions in telemedicine. About the Guest: Dr. Ashok Gupta is the founder and CEO of TheraNow, a leading virtual physical therapy platform that has supported over 70,000 patients across the US since 2021. A former VA physical therapist, he is a passionate advocate for hybrid care models and the safe, responsible integration of AI in telemedicine.  Connect with Dr Ashok Gupta on: Website: TheraNow.com LinkedIn: Dr. Ashok Gupta About the Hosts: Dr. Leo Damasco – Pediatrician and emergency medicine doctor turned telemedicine advocate, helping physicians transition to digital health. Phoebe Gutierrez – Former state regulator turned telehealth executive, specializing in compliance and sustainable virtual care models. Connect with Phoebe Gutierrez:https://www.linkedIn.com/in/pkgutierrez/ [email protected]  (mailto:[email protected])                  The information provided in Telemedicine Talks is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal, or financial advice. While we discuss best practices, industry trends, and real-world experiences, every situation is unique. Listeners should consult with qualified professionals before making decisions related to telemedicine practice, compliance, contracts, or business operations. The views expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations they may be affiliated with. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.