The COVID-19 outbreak stirred the revitalization of health care systems of different countries. Major technology companies continue to develop products that will improve the quality of health services. Hospitals relied on these technology solutions for the continuity of essential health services even during the pandemic.
In the US, hospitals and senior living centers asked the help of Amazon for the integration of Alexa programs in their facilities. Amazon’s two new programs will operate via Alexa Smart Properties. The program will allow an organization to control a centralized Alexa system.
At the onset of the pandemic, hospitals and senior living communities reached out to Amazon to help them establish Alexa and voice programs. Liron Torres, global leader of Alexa Smart Properties, talked about the proposed project during an interview with The Verge. The hospital needed help in interacting with patients safely, and retirement communities wanted to connect residents with family members and staff.
What are the Advantages of Alexa-enabled Devices
In nursing homes, the residents can use Amazon Echo devices to call their loved ones and be updated with community news. During the start of the pandemic, several facilities used printed announcements inserted through the resident doors. That was their method of informing the senior citizens on the changes in protocols and other important information. With the presence of Alexa, the staff would be able to send messages instantly into patient rooms. They can communicate with the patients through voice and video calls. Amazon believes that this innovation could make facilities more efficient and productive.
Through Alexa, patients can call a family member or friend without relying on facility staff. Authorized contacts would also be able to reach through Alexa. The facility could enable a calling function for a set of contacts approved by the resident and family members as soon as they are setted in. Two senior living communities expressed their interest in the pilot-testing of Alexa. Atria (which is nationwide) and Eskaton (located in California) will use Alexa at some of their facilities. However, Amazon did not mention how much the program costs those facilities.
Amazon says that putting Alexa next to hospital beds will increase productivity because nurses need not often go into patients’ rooms.
Meanwhile, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles), BayCare Health System (Florida), and Houston Methodist will soon use Alexa-enabled devices in their facilities. The devices will enable nurses to connect to the patients through calls and intercom-like drop-in features without entering their rooms.
Some of the advantages of the Alexa-enabled devices are the following:
- Help the patients when asking for assistance from the nurses
- Nurses could check on the condition of patients without entering their rooms.
- Alexa can also help the patients perform basic tasks, such as changing TV channels or playing music or a podcast.
- Patients can also turn on the “do not disturb” function to prevent unexpected visitors.
- Alexa can also relay Hospital information and announcements to patients while lounging at the center’s lobby.
Amazon said that this would help hospitals to increase productivity and provide more personalized care. Hospitals will also conserve medical supplies and protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, and gowns. Personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage has become an issue in some locations at the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alexa Smart Properties aggressively offered innovative healthcare solutions, especially during the pandemic. According to Peachy Hain of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, voice is fundamental for patients regardless of age or tech-savviness. Alexa’s user-friendly features will allow the patients to reach out to the hospital staff and stay entertained. On the other hand, care providers can perform their tasks productively and allot more time for patient care. “It is a total game changer for enhancing Cedar-Sinai’s services,” Hain continued.
The new Alexa Smart Properties solutions for hospitals and senior living communities will roll out in the US in November 2021.
How Did Amazon Handle Data Privacy Issues?
Although Amazon faced privacy issues related to voice recordings and transcription, the two new programs will not save the voice recordings. Amazon clarified that both programs do not require users to share personal information with Alexa when using the device. Users can also mute Amazon Echo’s microphone at any time. Amazon also claims that they protect health information received through HIPAA-eligible Alexa skill interaction.
The technology solutions provider has been developing Alexa healthcare applications for several years. A CNBC report in 2018 had said that the company was creating a healthcare team with Alexa intending to make the voice assistant accessible. That is why Amazon has been working through the complex regulation mandated by the HIPAA (United States Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996).
In 2019, Amazon launched its first HIPAA-compliant devices and began pilot-testing in hospitals. Amazon also invested in other healthcare solutions like Amazon Comprehend Medical, a machine learning tool for gathering doctors’ notes and patient health records.
About Alexa Smart Properties
Amazon develops Alexa Smart Properties as a set of technologies that property owners and managers can utilize to manage Alexa-enabled devices according to their needs. Voice commands or Alexa custom skills can simplify tasks such as playing music, controlling in-room temperatures or lighting, delivering news or announcements, among others. These devices can increase productivity in businesses, hotels, homes, healthcare facilities, and senior living communities.
Other Players in the Healthcare Industry
Amazon is not the sole major technology firm that invests in the healthcare field. Microsoft announced $40 million worth of investments in AI for health programs earlier this year. Specifically, Microsoft plans to acquire a speech tech company to beef up its AI, cloud, and healthcare applications. Also, Google has worked together with other healthcare providers. They plan to open an office in Rochester, Minnesota, this year. Likewise, Google partnered with Mayo Clinic for a plan regarding the enhancement of patient care. Google and Mayo Clinic also worked together for COVID-19 response initiatives.
