Google Assistant now offers AHS wait times, latest news

AHS information made available on Amazon’s Echo product line earlier this year

CALGARY — Google Assistant is the latest voice-activated, smart-home technology that can deliver Alberta Health Services (AHS) information, including estimated emergency department wait times and the latest AHS news.

In February, AHS became the first public healthcare organization in Canada to offer information to the public with this technology by developing an Alexa skill for Amazon Echo products.

The AHS Alexa Skill can be enabled on Amazon’s Echo products, whereas the Google Assistant can be used through Google Home products, or by downloading the Google Assistant app on any android or iOS mobile device.

Once enabled or installed, you can say simple phrases such as, “Alexa, ask Alberta Health Services for emergency department wait times,” or, “Hey Google, ask Alberta Health Services for latest news.”

In addition to the most up-to-date AHS information and news, both the Google Assistant and Alexa provide estimated emergency department wait times for hospitals in Edmonton and Calgary, for urgent care centres in the AHS Calgary Zone, as well as for Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge.

This service is another way AHS is using innovation and technology to better support Albertans in managing and maintaining their health.

AHS will continue to expand services to the intelligent personal assistants, in addition to developing the same service for Apple’s soon-to-be-released HomePod product line.

To learn more, please visit ahs.ca/google or ahs.ca/alexa.

Patients and the public can also access up-to-the-minute wait times at specific emergency departments 24 hours a day, seven days a week by visiting ahs.ca/waittimes or through the AHS mobile app.

As always, any patient with a potentially life-threatening condition should immediately phone 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency department, regardless of estimated wait times.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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