Cedars-Sinai has installed Amazon Echos in more than 100 hospital rooms to activate the Alexa-powered platform called Aiva, which patients can use to control their entertainment and interact with nurses.
Patients can ask Alexa to turn on/off their TV or change the channel. They can also request nurse assistance by saying something like “Alexa, tell my nurse I need to get up to use the bathroom.” The request is then sent to the appropriate caregiver’s mobile phone. A bathroom request would be routed to a clinical partner, while a pain medication request would be sent to a registered nurse. If the request isn’t answered in a timely manner, Aiva sends it up the chain of command.
The Echo devices also include standard Alexa features, enabling patients to ask for games, music, weather and sports information.
Cedars-Sinai is conducting this experiment with Aiva Health, a startup based in Los Angeles, which relies on Amazon Echos, Google Homes and other voice devices to create voice-controlled caregivers. The company includes tech giant investors like Amazon and Google.
With the introduction of a personal voice assistant, replacing the traditional doorbell and TV remote control, it is possible to create “smart rooms” to offer patients more entertainment options, more control over their environment and closer communication with their care team.
Digital-health 