NYU Langone Health is set to become the first healthcare system to adopt Amazon One, Amazon’s innovative palm recognition technology. Starting the week of March 10, 2025, patients at select NYU Langone Health facilities will have the option to verify their identity during check-in using this advanced biometric system.
Initially launched in 2020, Amazon One leverages proprietary, generative AI to create a unique “palm signature” for each user. This signature is derived from a combination of palm and vein imagery, enabling fast and accurate identification. The technology has a reported accuracy rate of 99.9999% and recognition time of under a second. This rollout at NYU Langone Health represents the largest third-party deployment of Amazon One to date, and its first application within the healthcare industry.
“One of NYU Langone’s goals is to leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance the patient experience,” stated Nader Mherabi, executive VP and vice dean, chief digital and information officer at NYU Langone. “We make all decisions with our patients in mind first and foremost, and we’re always looking for ways to improve their experience through technology. As with all new initiatives and technology of this scale, we will optimize over time and meet the needs of our patients.”
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon’s cloud computing subsidiary, collaborated with Epic, NYU Langone’s electronic health record system, to integrate Amazon One seamlessly into the patient check-in process. Patients can enroll in Amazon One online or at designated kiosks within NYU Langone facilities, linking their profile to their patient records in a matter of minutes.
Colleen Aubrey, senior VP of AWS Solutions, emphasized the patient-centric approach, stating, “Health care is deeply personal and often stressful. With Amazon One, we’ve created a palm recognition system that respects privacy while making check-ins simpler when patients have more important things on their minds.”
Amazon assures data security for NYU Langone patients. The palm data is immediately encrypted and sent to a secure environment within the AWS cloud, custom-built for Amazon One. AWS implemented multilayered security controls, including encryption, data isolation, and restricted access zones, to protect patient information. Amazon clarifies that it will only use the system for identity authentication, not storing any health information, and that the data is never used for marketing purposes.
Patients who prefer not to use Amazon One will retain access to all healthcare services and can verify their identities through alternative methods.
