Crain’s NY Business
February 19 2021.

The city’s Administration for Children’s Services will use artificial intelligence to screen for signs of Covid-19 infection before each of its 6,000 employees report to work.

The city will use the Covid-19 Medical Brain app, which chats with users to identify potential virus symptoms. HealthPrecision, the Manhattan company behind the app, announced the partnership Thursday.

Through Covid-19 Medical Brain, a chatbot asks employees how they are feeling and inquires about any warning signs—such as a cough or fever.

The app provides a recommendation as to whether the person can report to work, using guidance from the employer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the city and state departments of Health. If the employee is clear to go, they receive a green screen for the day that they can display once they arrive at work.

“By using chat-based interactions, the app can understand how someone is speaking and can ask further questions rather than just checking boxes,” said Dr. Eyal Ephrat, CEO and co-founder of HealthPrecision. “That enables greater accuracy for something complex like Covid.”

ACS Commissioner David Hansell described the app as another step in the protocols the agency is using to keep its employees and the families they serve safe.

Ephrat said this is the first use of Covid-19 Medical Brain outside the health care sector. The nonprofit Public Health Solutions began using it for employees in May. Maimonides Medical Center has been using a version of the app for two years, initially just as a way to screen for general illness, Ephrat said. The company modified the app in response to Covid-19.

—Ryan Deffenbaugh

NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and healthPrecision are pleased to announce they are collaborating to bring the COVID-19 Medical Brain to thousands of ACS employees serving and protecting children and youth in the New York City area.

The COVID-19 Medical Brain uses the power of AI to complete pre-work health screening, incorporating the latest guidelines from the CDC and the health departments of New York State and New York City (DoHMH).

The app, available on Apple and Android devices, communicates with users in easy-to-understand, conversational language. It is available continuously and responds in real-time.

The Medical Brain meets strict data privacy and confidentiality standards to securely screen employees based on symptoms, potential exposure and test results so they can safely access their workplaces and the community to provide essential services. A badge is issued for safe facility access.

These capabilities are especially important for the thousands of mission-driven ACS employees who work tirelessly with children and families in their homes and communities.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, healthPrecision has been deeply invested in using our advanced AI applications to keep people safe now and in the long term,” said Eyal Ephrat, MD, CEO and cofounder of healthPrecision. “We are thrilled to partner with ACS to protect some of the most essential workers right here in New York City: the public servants who are risking their own health – and their families’ health – to care for vulnerable infants, children, and youth who need extra support during this trying time.”

“The health and safety of staff, and the children and families we serve, is our top priority and we’ve continued to put protocols in place to help our staff carry out their mission safely during the pandemic. The launch of the new COVID-19 Medical Brain app is just one more way we’re working to protect and support ACS staff during this challenging time,” said Commissioner David A. Hansell.

About New York Administration for Children’s Services
The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and wellbeing of New York City’s children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care and education services. ACS seeks to recruit Youth Development Specialists (YDS) to provide safe and secure supervision and care to at-risk youth who are placed in secure juvenile detention by the court.

About healthPrecision: healthPrecision is committed to breakthrough changes in healthcare and population well-being through innovative technology that helps people improve their health long-term. healthPrecision’s team of 70+ physicians and nurses, data science specialists, and medical engineers combine their skills to create leading decision support systems for the industry and serve our healthcare heroes in the midst of this crisis.

For more information contact healthPrecision at:
Bev@healthprecision.com
772-486-5868

ACS
mediainquiry@acs.nyc.gov
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/acs/index.page

Contact:
mediainquiry@acs.nyc.gov

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Our team at heathPrecision is thrilled to stand alongside ACS as we implement a new way to aid the fight against Covid-19. The Medical Brain provides accurate and intelligent support to those on the front lines, assisting families and children in New York City. The Covid-19 Medical Brain will continue to be a key part of the long term plan.

The Bronx Daily
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