Earlier this morning, Amazon announced in a blog post that its voice-based Alexa platform now supports the development of software that communicates HIPAA-protected health information through an invite-only Alexa Skills Kit program.
To kick off the new capability, the company also highlighted the launch of six new Alexa skills built by healthcare providers and other stakeholders. Each is designed...
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have crossed the threshold from theory and pilots to real implementations in hospitals. But the reality of machine learning’s role is a bit different from the idyllic vision of IBM Watson reading the New England Journal of Medicine and setting a care plan, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CIO Dr. John Halamka said in a talk today at the Innovation...
2018 revealed some of Amazon’s biggest moves into the healthcare space. The year kicked off with the major announcement that the retail and tech giant was teaming up with Berkshire Hathaway and JP Morgan Chase to build its own nonprofit healthcare entity. As the year unfolded the public would hear more details about the leadership and location of the venture.
In addition to the venture, Amazon...
Amazon Web Services has unveiled a new machine learning tool that looks to help healthcare industry developers process bodies of unstructured medical text.
Called Amazon Comprehend Medical, the HIPAA-eligible service is able to pull out medically-relevant information such as patient diagnoses, symptoms, medical test details, treatments and dosages, while simultaneously highlighting any protected...
In yet another move into the healthcare space, Amazon Web Service (AWS) has added to its collection of HIPAA-eligible services, which now includes machine learning tools Amazon Translate, Amazon Comprehend and Amazon Transcribe.
“To support our healthcare customers, AWS HIPAA-eligible services enable covered entities and their business associates subject to HIPAA to use the secure AWS...
Clarification: This article has been updated to clarify that Amazon isn't involved in the development of the products. Instead, the latest product line was launched by Arcadia and will be exclusively sold on Amazon.
Amazon’s latest move into the healthcare arena will be focused on helping consumers manage their diabetes or cardiovascular conditions, according to an announcement from Arcadia...
Amazon and Walmart have both recently been granted patents for novel uses of biometric sensing — Amazon for an Alexa feature that would allow the device to passively detect signs of illness and recommend remedies and Walmart for a connected shopping cart handle that can detect heart rate, palm temperature, grip force, and walking speed.
Companies, especially large, over-resourced companies like...
Last week two venture branches of Silicon Valley’s biggest names, Amazon’s Alexa Fund and the Google Assistant Investment Program, announced investments in patient voice assistant Aiva, which specializes in hands-free communication between patients and caregivers. While the investment amounts have not be publicly announced, the company revealed its other investors include Act One Ventures, Mucker...
There’s little doubt that new innovations will disrupt healthcare operations and the revenue cycle as well as care delivery.
The bigger question is whether those will be technological in nature, new business models or a combination of both? While hospitals and health insurers await that answer, many executives and experts are closely watching two partnerships unfold: CVS Health’s proposed merger...
American Well has hired Keith W. Anderson as its new chief financial officer. Anderson comes to American Well via Piper Jaffrey, where he served as managing director and a member of the healthcare investment banking team.
"I'm pleased to welcome Keith onboard," Ido Schoenberg, chairman and CEO of American Well, said in a statement. "He has an exceptional track record of advising leading...
