The new Alexa Skill from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is the first to be developed by a rehabilitative health care organization. With just a few simple words, everyday people across the country can now get clinical guidance from Mary Free Bed.
The program was developed with the help of Mary Free Bed Physical Therapist Terence Ruben and Director of Technology and Innovation, Jason Peoples, as a way to remove barriers to healthcare barriers.
“Really the genesis of this project was focusing on the pain points that people have that are very common that could be treated by simple voice assistance," Peoples said.
Users who want information regarding outpatient services can open the app and say, “services.”
Those concerned about an injury or pain in a specific area of the body would tell Alexa they need an “assessment.”
Areas of injury and discomfort include:
- Hip, knee and ankle pain
- Low back, mid back and neck pain
- Shoulder and wrist pain
Using Amazon’s digital assistant or the Alexa mobile app, users will be guided through a list of questions. Based on user responses, the Skill will offer ways to manage symptoms and learn simple exercises that can be done at home.
Mary Free Bed innovation team and health experts worked with technology company Aspirent to develop the Alexa Skill.
