BayCare Harnesses Alexa Technology For Better Patient Experience

TAMPA BAY, FL — BayCare is using Aiva technology in 2,500 hospital rooms across 14 Tampa Bay-area hospitals. Patients will experience smart rooms that allow them to connect with their care team and control devices like the television – all hands-free.

The technology is now being deployed at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz before being implemented system-wide by BayCare into other hospitals. BayCare hopes to have the technology in place across its entire system by the end of 2021.

BayCare uses a health care-specific platform known as Aiva to handle patient requests. Requests are immediately sent to the correct support person based on what a patient tells Aiva via an Alexa device installed in their room. The care team member receives the request on their BayCare iPhone specifically deployed for communications.

“The patient can simply ask Alexa for things they need like a blanket or a glass of water,” said Craig Anderson, BayCare director of innovation. “Aiva interprets all those requests and sends it to right person. It is a seamless connection between the patient and their care team.”

The technology was piloted at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa and Winter Haven Hospital in 2019 before being put in use at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. Patients were highly satisfied with the Aiva technology in surveys during the pilot, Anderson said.

“Millions of Americans use voice assistants for comfort and convenience at home,” said St. Joseph’s Hospital-North president Tom Garthwaite. “Bringing this technology to the hospital room will help many people feel more comfortable, which ultimately supports their recovery.”

Currently, Aiva also enables patients to control the hospital room television via Alexa. With a simple voice request, patients can request a particular television channel and control the volume.

Anderson said BayCare plans for the Aiva technology to eventually control an entire room.

“Our goal is to make an entire smart hospital room,” Anderson said. “Through voice commands you can ask for anything you need, you can get any entertainment you want, control the television, room lighting and temperature. Controlling window blinds is also potentially an option for the future. Technologies that are now standard in some homes will be available in the hospital room.”

This press release was produced by the BayCare Health System. The views expressed here are the author’s own.