NYU Langone Adopts Amazon One for Streamlined Patient Check-In
NYU Langone Health is set to become the largest third-party adopter of Amazon One, the e-commerce giant’s palm-scanning technology. Beginning next week, patients at NYU Langone facilities in the New York metropolitan area will have the option of using Amazon One to check in for appointments, with a broader rollout planned for later this year.
This contactless service is expected to significantly improve the patient experience. According to NYU Langone, the technology will expedite sign-in procedures, lighten the administrative load on staff, and decrease errors and wait times.
“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,” said Andrew Rubin, NYU Langone senior vice president of clinical affairs, in an interview with CNBC.
With over 10 million patient visits annually, even small efficiencies can make a big difference at NYU Langone. The healthcare system anticipates that Amazon One will reduce patient front desk time from the current two-to-three-minute average to under a minute.
Nader Mherabi, NYU Langone’s chief digital and information officer, noted the collaboration has been in development for approximately nine months. Amazon has indicated intentions to explore further uses for Amazon One within healthcare, such as secure access to specialized areas and shared computer systems.
Amazon introduced Amazon One in 2020 at its cashierless Go stores and expanded to all Whole Foods Market locations in 2023. The company has assured that it will not store or utilize patient health data or personal information beyond the palm prints. Participation in the program is voluntary, and patients can opt out at any time. Amazon and NYU Langone have not disclosed the financial terms of their agreement.
