Carolinas HealthCare System Launches Voice Activated Technology to Give Patients Easier Access to Healthcare
Patients can now find closest Urgent Care and Emergency Room and check wait times using Amazon’s Alexa technology.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 26, 2017 – Carolinas HealthCare System patients can now use Amazon’s electronic personal assistant Alexa to locate the nearest urgent care and emergency department and get current wait times.
“Carolinas HealthCare System is always looking to make it easier for patients to get care. We know the last thing a patient needs during an urgent medical need is to have to figure out where to go,” said Craig Richardville, SVP and chief information and analytics officer for Carolinas HealthCare System. “Using Alexa is quick and convenient. This is just one of many technological advances we are making at Carolinas to help patients access and manage their care. On Alexa, you can easily ask for the nearest hospital or urgent care, saving precious time.”
Once the patient enables the Carolinas HealthCare System skill on Alexa, they just need to say, “Alexa, use Carolinas HealthCare to find the closest urgent care or hospital.” Alexa responds with the closest Carolinas HealthCare System location and estimated wait time. Patients can then reserve their spot at one of Carolinas HealthCare System’s 28 urgent care locations, via the Carolinas app on their tablet or smart phone, or log on to CarolinasHealthCare.org/UrgentCare.
Carolinas HealthCare System is one of a few healthcare providers with an Alexa “skill” and will be adding similar capabilities for Google’s personal assistant, Google Assistant in the near future.
Over the last several years, Carolinas HealthCare System has provided new, easier ways to access care, from live video visits, to eVisits answered within hours, online scheduling for doctors’ and urgent care visits and MyCarolinas portal which provides patients with their doctors’ notes and lab and test results. In addition, Carolinas HealthCare System pioneered the use of palm vein scanning technology in visits where patients’ medical records are matched with them.
For a demonstration of the Carolinas HealthCare System skill on Alexa, download the video here.
About Carolinas HealthCare System
Carolinas HealthCare System, one of the nation’s leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Its diverse network of care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, physician practices, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes and behavioral health centers, as well as hospice and palliative care services. Carolinas HealthCare System works to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives.
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