NYU Langone Health patients will soon be able to check in for appointments using Amazon’s palm-scanning technology, the company announced. This move marks the largest third-party implementation of Amazon One to date.
The Amazon One system, a contactless service, is designed to identify patients “securely and quickly,” according to a release from the companies. NYU Langone anticipates the technology will streamline the check-in process, alleviate administrative burdens on staff, and minimize both errors and patient wait times. For a healthcare system managing over 10 million patient visits annually, efficiency is paramount.
Andrew Rubin, NYU Langone’s senior vice president of clinical affairs, told CNBC that Amazon One should reduce the time patients spend at the front desk from the current two to three minutes to less than a minute. “That’s both a positive experience for the patient to be able to actually get in faster, and requires less work on our part having to authenticate who the patient is,” Rubin said.
NYU Langone has stated that Amazon will not store or access patients’ health data or any personal information beyond their palm prints. Participation is voluntary, and patients retain the option to opt out at any time.
The implementation of Amazon One at NYU Langone, which operates six hospitals and over 320 outpatient facilities, follows nine months of collaboration, according to Nader Mherabi, NYU Langone’s chief digital and information officer.
Amazon has expressed plans to explore the potential of Amazon One in healthcare, including applications such as credentialing for access to high-security areas and shared computer systems. The technology was initially introduced at Amazon Go cashierless stores in 2020 and subsequently rolled out to all Whole Foods Market locations in 2023.
The service will be available at NYU Langone facilities within the New York metropolitan area beginning next week, with plans for expansion to other locations throughout the year. Amazon and NYU Langone have not disclosed the financial terms of the agreement.
– CNBC’s Annie Palmer contributed to this report.
