The next step that Amazon will take in the US health system is to equip hospitals with Alexa, its virtual assistant.
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Amazon announced on Monday that hospitals, such as Boston Children’ Hospital, Cedars-Sinai in California, BayCare in Florida and Houston Methodist, will soon use Alexa-enabled devices, which include the Amazon Echo speaker, to help patients communicate with medical staff.
Amazon said that using devices with Alexa capability in healthcare could mean that staff do not need to enter patients' rooms unnecessarily. «This gives hospitals the ability to increase productivity, maintain medical supplies and protective equipment such as masks, gloves and gowns, and free up staff time to provide more personalized care», he said.
Hospitals will use Amazon's Alexa Smart Properties system starting next month, Amazon said, adding that healthcare providers can also enable HIPAA-, such as medication tracking, for the devices.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) legally protects medical records and other personal health information in the United States.
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Amazon announced on Monday that some nursing homes will start using Alexa, including some that are managed by providers Atria and Eskaton. The system is already being used in hotels and offices.
The giant tech company has already helped US healthcare with its online pharmacy and the new primary care venture.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon tested its Alexa-enabled devices in health systems worldwide, including the United States. In May 2020, it donated Echo Show devices and Fire tablets to essentially connect patients with healthcare workers.
Information source: yahoo.com
