Page 23 - Christiana Care Focus October 2018

| Technology Innovation
Why did Christiana Care develop its first skill for an Amazon product?
Alexa: Christiana Care’s Health & Technology Innovation Center continually researches the latest products on the market. The team looks at what is currently on the market and what’s coming. They test other virtual assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana. I am one of the first to have a skill.
In the future, what kind of services might Christiana Care’s skill offer?
Alexa, why are skills and apps of interest to the health care sector?
Alexa: Organizations like Christiana Care want to improve the health of
their communities while controlling
the ballooning cost of health care. I
can help patients manage their health, particularly if they have a chronic disease like diabetes. To find out what I can do, just ask me. 
Alexa: Amazon’s Echo Show combines a smart speaker with a display. If I am HIPAA-compliant, patients can talk to providers using the display, tell you your discharge instructions and remind you to take your medication. I can keep track of doctor appointments and help surgeons run through their safety checklists before starting a procedure.
I am already able to connect with hardware devices, which opens the door to more possibilities.
In 2017, Wellpepper an award-winning and clinically-validated patient engagement platform used by major health systems to improve outcomes and lower costs of care. won the $125,000 grand prize in the Alexa Diabetes Challenge.
As part of its Sugarpod care plan solution, Wellpepper prototyped an Alexa-enabled scale and foot scanner, which tells patients about foot problems. Many people with diabetes develop foot complications, so this is a valuable tool.
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