In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, Southeast Health has teamed up with Amazon to address some of the challenges created by the virus, including patient communication and safety for healthcare workers on the frontline.

Amazon donated 99 Echo Show devices to Southeast Health Foundation, which allows clinical teams to connect with patients via audio and video by leveraging the devices drop in feature. Echo Show devices help to enhance communication, decrease exposure among patients and staff members, and reduce the need for personal protective equipment, such as masks, gowns and rubber gloves.

Patients can also use the Echo Show device, enabled by Alexa, to relax and listen to music or ambient sounds.

Southeast Health first learned about the device donation through Aiva Health, a software company that utilizes Amazon’s Alexa technology and software to enhance the patient experience. The company was instrumental in the setup and programming of the devices at Southeast Health Medical Center, and their support helped fast track the entire project.

“The team at Southeast Health has responded to the COVID-19 public health crisis in remarkable and heroic ways. One of our top priorities as a leadership team has been protecting our staff from this highly communicable virus. The national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the disruption of the normal PPE supply chain is an ongoing concern,” said Melissa Owens, chief nursing officer at Southeast Health, “It’s amazing that Amazon and Aiva Health helped us solve this challenge by adapting previously existing technology, Alexa enabled Echo Show devices in the healthcare setting. This is helping us preserve PPE and reduce staff exposure. The Echo Show and Alexa’s voice activated software is an arrow in the arsenal of weapons helping fight COVID-19.”

The hospital also received 74 Amazon Fire Tablets through the same program, which will be used to enhance patient communication with their loved ones.

“We are deeply grateful to the Amazon and Aiva Health team for their efforts to fight COVID-19 and improve patient care,” said Eric Daffron, chief information officer for Southeast Health. “We were looking for a simple solution that could be implemented quickly.  This technology was perfect and it’s helping physicians, nurses and other staff members stay safe while supporting patients in a meaningful way.”

About Aiva Health
Aiva is the voice operating system for better care.  Our secure enterprise platform uses voice assistants like Amazon Alexa to empower patients and seniors throughout their care journey. Aiva users enjoy more entertainment options, better control of their environment and instant two-way communication with their care team.  Aiva voice-enables existing systems in areas such as clinical communications, patient engagement, electronic health records, dining menus, work orders, building management and IoT.  The company is based in Los Angeles.  Investors include the Alexa Fund, Google Assistant Investment Program, Act One Ventures, Mucker Capital, Techstars and the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator.

About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.