PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Medical alert devices have come a long way from the days of those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” infomercials.
Now, a Montgomery County company has built artificial intelligence into its medical alert service — putting AI directly into the hands of patients who otherwise might not be apt to use it.
“This population loves texting, and this is really an extension of that kind of communication that they’ve become quite familiar with,” says Janet Dillione, CEO of Connect America.
The Bala Cynwyd-based company has an AI chat assistant called Esper.
Patients can text “I need a ride to the doctor’s tomorrow” and Esper knows which appointment, where to book the car and even remembers if the person uses a walker or needs a specially-equipped vehicle.
And the conversation goes both ways: Esper will reach out to the patient to help providers monitor health trends.
“They have to take …