Amazon announces Alexa for healthcare systems

announced Amazon announced two new programs that integrate Alexa into hospitals and residential communities for seniors, and are powered by Alexa Smart Properties, which allows organizations to control their Alexa central system.

Alexa Smart Properties are specifically designed to meet the needs of older communities and healthcare facilities, while simplifying the widespread deployment and management of Alexa-enabled devices, helping deliver personalized Alexa experiences for residents and patients, increasing care team productivity and operational efficiency.

“Hospitals and communities of seniors reached out to us early in the pandemic and asked for help setting up Alexa in the communities,” said Leron Torres, director of Alexa Smart Properties.

And hospitals wanted ways to interact with patients without using protective equipment. Seniors societies wanted to connect residents with family members and employees.

The program allows hospitals and residential communities for seniors to use Echo devices to send advertisements or other messages to residents’ rooms.

During the coronavirus pandemic, many facilities have relied on printed sheets delivered through residents’ door slits to report changes in protocols, such as meals or quarantines.

Alexa allows them to send messages instantly to patient rooms. Employees can be more willing to take on other tasks, Torres says.

Residents can also make Alexa calls with family members or friends without having to rely on a staff member.

Approved contacts can also call via Alexa. The facility can enable contact with a set of contacts approved by the resident and family members upon arrival.

Amazon said two networks from the seniors community, Atria and Eskaton, are adding Alexa to some of the facilities. The company declined to disclose the cost of the program for those facilities.

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Establishments can send advertisements to patient rooms

In hospitals, Alexa Smart Properties software allows nurses to communicate with patients through intercom features without having to enter patient rooms.

Patients can ask questions, or nurses can check how someone is feeling through the Drop In feature.

This enables hospitals to increase productivity and be able to save on medical supplies, says Torres. Hospitals can also send information and advertisements to patients through Alexa.

Torres says patients can switch to Do Not Disturb mode. AndAmazon said Cedars-Sinai International Medical Center
In Los Angeles, BayCare Health System Florida, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Houston Methodist are adding Alexa to their facilities.

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