Hospitals are signing on to use Alexa-type devices to access patient data

Getting personal medical data from a disembodied electronic voice might seem like science fiction but is rapidly turning into reality as hospitals turn to devices like Amazon’s Alexa.

Hospital systems across the country are in the initial stages of rolling out voice-activated digital assistants like Alexa to boost patient engagement and simplify the work of doctors and nurses. The voice-activated devices are being used both in hospitals and at home and can help patients check their medications, look up wait times at the ER, and even help doctors pull data from patient electronic health records.

New York-based Northwell Health, for example, is a month away from rolling out a program that will put Alexa devices in every...