Alexa in Healthcare: Amazon Expands to Hospitals & Senior Living

Amazon Expands Alexa Smart Properties to Healthcare and Senior Living

Building upon its existing presence in hospitality and residential complexes, Amazon has announced the launch of new solutions tailored for healthcare providers and senior living facilities. These offerings, integrated within the Alexa Smart Properties framework, are engineered to facilitate the large-scale deployment of Alexa devices.

Solutions for Senior Living Centers

Residents in senior living communities will gain the ability to connect with family and friends via Alexa devices. They will also be kept informed about community events and local news.

The devices will enable announcements, direct audio communication between residents, and voice/video calls. Furthermore, they will streamline administrative processes, such as check-ins and maintenance requests, potentially increasing facility efficiency.

Amazon confirmed that Atria and Eskaton are among the senior living communities that will be integrating this new solution.

Expanding the Ecosystem

The use of Alexa in senior care was previously being explored by companies like K4Connect, which secured $21 million in Series B funding last year. This funding was intended to bring advanced technologies, including Alexa’s voice assistance, to elderly individuals and those with disabilities.

Now, K4Connect, alongside other providers like Lifeline Senior Living, Aiva, and Vocera, can leverage the tools and APIs offered by Alexa Smart Properties. This will simplify the development and deployment of their own customized solutions.

Healthcare Applications

Amazon previously conducted a pilot program with Cedars-Sinai, placing Alexa devices in patient rooms. Patients were able to use voice commands for simple tasks, such as changing television channels, and for communicating with caregivers.

The goal was to reduce the burden on nurses by automating routine tasks, allowing them to focus more intently on patient care.

New Hospital Solutions

With the new hospital solution, patients can utilize Alexa to communicate with staff, manage room devices, and enjoy entertainment options like news and music.

Healthcare professionals can also communicate with patients through Alexa features like calling and Drop-In, minimizing the need to physically enter patient rooms. Amazon suggests this could contribute to resource conservation, including medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Cedars-Sinai, BayCare, and Houston Methodist are among the healthcare providers officially implementing the Alexa Smart Properties solution following successful pilot programs.

Positive Feedback from Cedars-Sinai

“Voice technology is easily accessible for patients of all ages and technical abilities,” stated Peachy Hain, Executive Director of Medical and Surgical Services at Cedars-Sinai. “Alexa allows patients to connect with their care team and remain entertained immediately upon arrival, while also enabling care providers to optimize their workflow and dedicate more time to patient care. It fundamentally improves the hospital experience.”

Privacy and Security Measures

Addressing past concerns regarding voice recording privacy, Amazon assures that the healthcare and senior living solutions do not store voice recordings. Users are not required to share personal information with Alexa to utilize the devices.

The Echo’s microphone can be muted at any time using the dedicated button. Amazon also asserts that it protects protected health information through HIPAA-eligible Alexa skill interactions.

Long-Term Investment in Healthcare

Amazon’s efforts to integrate Alexa into healthcare settings date back to 2018, with the formation of a dedicated healthcare team. This initiative focused on navigating the complexities of HIPAA regulations to make the voice assistant a valuable tool within the industry.

In 2019, Amazon launched its first HIPAA-compliant medical skills and initiated pilot programs in hospitals. The company has also invested in healthcare solutions like Amazon Comprehend Medical and acquired online pharmacy PillPack.

Availability

Both new Alexa Smart Properties solutions will be available in the U.S. starting next month, according to Amazon.