Alexa, What's My Blood Pressure?

The healthcare industry is a multi-trillion dollar per year business—and tech companies want in.

In January, Amazon announced its plan to revolutionize healthcare, and has since developed a team to integrate health and wellness applications directly into its virtual assistant, Alexa, reports Slate Magazine.

Specifically, the team is targeting “Diabetes management, care for the elderly, and care for new mothers and infants,” added the article.

Because of the device’s ability to become part of a household, and help with daily activities – i.e. morning alarms, news, etc. – it could also help remind users to take medications, set appointment reminders, and work with other apps to log glucose or blood pressure levels. For the elderly, the app can act as a lifeline during emergencies, like falls. New parents can use the app as a liaison for information regarding their infant as well.

Healthcare providers have already begun using such apps, including the Massachusetts General hospital, which used Alexa in the operating room to assist surgeons with safety checklists.

There are, of course, privacy concerns. Part of the development of such apps is their ability to function in compliance with privacy laws. But as the author reports, it’s difficult to predict how this will unfold.

What is clear, however, is that the population is aging, and there will soon be a shortage of nurses. The development of these devices can help alleviate the work load and bring peace of mind, to patients, providers, and family members alike.