Accelerating Healthcare Technology Innovation
Availity, a healthcare technology company, has successfully automated routine software development tasks using Amazon Q and Amazon Bedrock. In spring 2023, Michael Privat, Availity’s chief architect and chief data officer, began exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) could transform software development. Through a series of LinkedIn posts, he detailed his vision of a “Scrum Team of the Future”—one where AI bots could handle routine knowledge work, freeing engineers to focus on creative problem-solving and innovation.
The Challenge
Availity operates an encrypted solution that connects medical providers with health plans across the United States. The company’s software development teams were bogged down by time-consuming tasks such as coordination meetings, filing documentation, and conducting routine assessments. A typical release review required a 3-hour meeting where senior engineering leaders manually assessed hundreds of release packages, examining each for potential risks.
The Solution
Availity turned to Amazon Web Services (AWS) to overhaul its development lifecycle using Amazon Q, a generative AI–powered assistant, and Amazon Bedrock, an easy way to build and scale generative AI applications. The company first adopted Amazon Q Developer as a code completion tool and later developed specialized bots using Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Q Business. These bots were directly incorporated into Availity’s development tools and chat systems, helping engineers brainstorm solutions and generate code.
For example, the Production Readiness Bot monitors development progress and guides teams through the process of taking code to production, automating documentation requirements and highlighting potential issues early in development. The Risk Assessment Bot analyzes release packages for security considerations, and the Security Bot conducts automated scans and suggests remediation steps.
The Outcome
Since implementation, Amazon Q Developer has generated 33% of all code written by the engineers who use it, with a 31% acceptance rate of the tool’s suggestions. The system has automated tasks such as code testing, security assessment, and performance testing. Using the Risk Assessment Bot, Availity has autonomously conducted 12,600 security scans, analyzed code, and summarized findings. Engineers can directly ask the bot about specific security risks in their code changes and receive immediate insights.
Availity’s approach to AI incorporation has changed how its engineers work, creating an environment where AI acts as an intelligent programming partner. The company is now exploring similar applications for other internal teams, including data engineers, data scientists, sales, and customer service teams.
AWS Services Used
- Amazon Q: The most capable generative AI–powered assistant for accelerating software development and leveraging companies’ internal data
- Amazon Bedrock: The easiest way to build and scale generative AI applications with foundation models
- Amazon Q Business: Unleash the power of generative AI in the workplace
- Amazon Q Developer: The most capable generative AI–powered assistant for software development
