Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital’s new virtual assistant answers questions, screens for symptoms and guides users to appropriate care
Willowbrook, CA April 21— Worried about COVID-19? Now you can get your questions answered with your cell phone or computer using “Ask Mia,” a new virtual assistant on the website of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH).
The friendly blue prompt in the lower right-hand corner of the hospital’s website, www.mlkch.org, connects community members to easily understandable and accessible advice on the virus, including what to do if you think you have it, as well as the latest federal and state prevention guidelines.
Available in both English and Spanish, the free COVID-19 assistant is part of MLKCH’s broader efforts to “flatten the curve” by giving community members knowledge and tools to use before coming into the hospital.
South Los Angeles is a medically-underserved area where a significant portion of the population does not have immediate access to primary care. Ask Mia helps to bridge that deficit by answering questions and directing potential COVID-19 cases to resources and care.
“Ask Mia” will
- Answer common questions about COVID-19
- Screen for COVID-19 symptoms
- Describe risk factors
- Navigate patients to appropriate care settings
- Summarize the latest state and federal prevention guidelines
“It’s a quick way to get accurate and easy-to-understand information about this disease,” said Tracy Donegan, MLKCH Chief Information and Innovation Officer. “That’s especially important in our community, where calling your primary care provider may not be an option.”
Below are the most common uses for “Ask Mia”
- Check for COVID-19 symptoms and pertinent risk factors
- Navigate patients to appropriate health system resources and care settings
- Provide general information on symptoms, prevention, and preparedness
- Provide answers to common questions about COVID-19
The tool is part of a broad strategy using technology to improve health. Links on the hospital’s website include
- Links to telehealth resources
- Latest county and state updates and links
- Short Q&A videos
- Interviews with MLKCH experts
- And more
MLKCH opened in 2015 as an all-digital hospital with state-of-the-art technology. It has been rated HIMSS-7, the highest level of technological excellence in healthcare, achieved by only 6.4% of hospitals nationwide. The community hospital has also won state and national accolades for its quality, high patient satisfaction rates, and innovative approaches to care.
For more information on MLKCH, please contact: Roxanne Romero-Agredano, MLKCH: 310-874-6636/ rragredano@mlkch.org. If you are interested in supporting MLKCH, please visit our Covid-19 response.
Mia is not a replacement for a doctor. MiaTM is designed to help you connect with nurse advice lines, and telehealth services offered by your health plan. Mia is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a medical professional for serious symptoms or emergencies. If you’re experiencing a life- or limb-threatening emergency, call 911 or the number for your local emergency service.
About MLKCH
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital is an award-winning safety-net hospital serving one of the most medically-underserved areas in the nation. Since its opening in 2015, the hospital has garnered awards and headlines for its innovative approaches to quality, safety and patient satisfaction. MLKCH is one of only 6.4% of hospitals in the nation to achieve HIMSS-7, the highest level of technological excellence. It has received an “A” rating from the patient safety rating organization LeapFrog and is in the top 10% of hospitals nationwide measured by Press Ganey for patient satisfaction. In 2019, the hospital’s CEO, Dr. Elaine Batchlor, won the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine.