Amazon partnered with clinical communication platform Vocera Communications to develop a HIPAA-eligible Alexa skill for hospitals to enable patients to submit voice requests to their clinics via the device.
Four things to know:
- The skill is designed to help patients and their families get information about their hospital stay and reach their care team by giving the device voice requests from their rooms, according to a Nov. 16 news release. The skill was developed to avoid unnecessary interruptions and overwhelming clinicians, according to the release.
- The Alexa device will give patients verbal updates about the status of their requests. Frequently asked questions, such as the hospital's visiting hours, will be answered directly by the device. Patients who need assistance will be prioritized, which is expected to improve response times.
- In October, Amazon unveiled a skill named Alexa Smart Properties. The skill allows clinicians to call and "drop in" on patients without physically entering their rooms. The skill developed in collaboration with Vocera leverages technologies from Alexa Smart Properties.
- "We're excited to work with Vocera and extend the voice experiences customers already love to healthcare systems and give care providers new ways to save time and personalize care for their patients," said Liron Torres, head of Alexa Smart Properties at Amazon.