Skills, Pills, & Hospital Bills: Amazon Debuts Alexa Health Features
Summary
Owners of Amazon’s voice-controlled, Internet-connected speakers can now use the gadgets to manage more aspects of their healthcare, following the company’s announcement Thursday that its Alexa devices can interface with software applications that process protected health information. As part of the announcement, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN ) unveiled six “Alexa healthcare skills,” which allow patients to book medical appointments, track prescription drug deliveries, and complete other tasks with help from a virtual assistant. Seattle-based Amazon said it worked with different types of healthcare organizations, including hospital and clinic networks, insurers, and software companies, to develop the skills and ensure they’re covered by a US law that regulates the use, disclosure, and transmission of protected patient health information. Haven, the company’s joint venture announced in early 2018 alongside Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM ), is aimed at improving the quality of healthcare the three business’ US-based employees receive, as well as lowering costs. “This is a major thing that Amazon has done—it has basically opened up the world of healthcare to building skills on Alexa,” said Aaron Martin, chief digital officer at Providence St. Joseph Health.
