Alhambra, Calif.-based AHMC Healthcare is launching a phone-based application to allow patients to make small adjustments to their hospital rooms, such as closing curtains and raising their bed, without having to call a hospital worker, according to a Pasadena Star-News report.
The app, called Voice Smart Care, aims to create the first "smart" inpatient hospital rooms in the country. Developed by AHMC Chairman Jonathan Wu, MD, and AHMC Co-CEO Dr. Wen-Ta Chiu along with Taiwan-based Taipei Medical University, the app can accept voice commands and text messages in four languages — English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese. In addition to making adjustments in their room, patients will be able to use the app to check schedules and directly contact the nursing station.
AHMC Healthcare will initially rollout the app via a pilot program at three of its hospitals, eventually expanding to include all its facilities. The app will be field-tested for six months to fix any issues, according to the report.