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Cera to pilot automated ‘Siri for care’ telephone assistant

Cera, a digital-first healthcare-at-home company, is trialing an artificial intelligence powered voice assistant for the UK care sector.

Known as Siri for care, the application aims to support patients track symptoms through a series of questions using automated phone calls.

The pilot will see individuals asked questions to monitor their health, with answers analysed using machine learning technology to identify significant changes, monitor and prevent health deteriorations, and send alerts to carers to arrange for a doctor’s visit where necessary.

Four of Cera’s customers will pilot the technology this month, with an aim to demonstrate how it can improve patients health and wellbeing outcomes alongside readmissions into hospitals and in-person visit.

Dr Ben Maruthappu MBE, CEO and Co-founder of Cera, said: “An automated phone call could save a call to emergency services – critical when staff burnout and waiting lists are at an all-time high – by monitoring health deteriorations through smart machine learning.

“As it’s powered by artificial intelligence, this programme offers a rapidly scalable approach to care, with the scope to be rolled out to millions of patients at low cost. We are excited to see how this trial goes and the impact that it has on our carers and patients.”

Earlier in the month the company announced it has “has grown 100-fold in three years, and has raised $400m in investment to date.”