Orbita, Inc., recently announced that they would be collaborating with AARP to conduct a study on remote patient monitoring along with reduce social isolation. The organizations were participants in the 2018 Pulse@MassChallenge accelerator. They will use the experience to study new digital ways in which natural language processing can be leveraged to enable hands-free, digital experiences for people over 50 years. The work will consist of continuous development of solutions that can provide in-home access to information that improves self-care tools among adults who desperately need it.
Studies have shown that health outcomes will improve if patients are immersed in their care. They can fully engage in tools that they can use to look after themselves. Andy Miller, AARP, senior vice president of innovation and product development, stated that many digital solutions fail to engage with patients, especially those who cannot use smartphones or tablets. This harms disease impact awareness, treatment adherence, clinical data accuracy along with other issues related to quality and cost of care. If a patient cannot independently take care of themselves, they lose track of the available tools that can help them.
Miller’s vision is for people to be able to use the power of their voice to take care of themselves. He further mentioned that loneliness is a big contributor to a decline in health. This is where digital assistants can come in handy. A friendly greeting or positive affirmation can go beyond just keeping someone company. It can also deliver daily reminders for patients to take their medication and to perform important care tasks. He emphasized that the work they do with Orbita allows people to choose how they live as they age, including through the products and services they offer.
The AARP innovation lab is coordinating a joint project from its base in Washington, DC. One of these projects involves Pillo Health which is an in-home digital care management company. It will include research on how the home care companion robot, Pill, can improve the management of diabetes. Pillo is the first voice-activated, video-enabled intelligent assistant that is built with the sole purpose of helping individuals engage better in their health. Using the Orbita platform, it also improves connectivity between patients and their care teams. This opens up the lines for effective communication.
Oribita CEO, Bill Rogers, stated that devices like Pillo, Amazon Echo, Google Home, chat-bots, along with other AI-powered devices are engaging consumers in new ways. According to him, using one’s voice allows for natural, hands-free experiences. It is creating opportunities in many industries. He mentions that the impact of voice-activated assistants in healthcare will have the most profound impact than in any other industry. He said that he is honored to be working with a company that aims at improving the health of so many people. Research has proven that more and more people over 50 are using smartphones. This is the way forward for innovative and practical medical care.
October 8, 2018
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