Self-Service

Georgia hospital becomes first to introduce Amazon Just Walk Out for hospital foodservice

Image: Amazon Just Walk Out

January 11, 2024

Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, has become the first hospital in the U.S. to offer Amazon's Just Walk Out technology, according to a press release.

The hospital is also the first Just Walk Out technology-enabled store with employee badge pay, allowing employees to use their badge to make purchases. The hospital has deployed the technology in partnership with its foodservice provider, Morrison Health Care, a division of Compass Group North America.

"Amazon's Just Walk Out technology supports our smart medicine strategy by providing high tech solutions to our patients, visitors and co-workers, even with foodservice," Paul Hinchey, president and CEO of St. Joseph's/Candler, said in the press release. "Once we evaluate its impact post launch, we will determine how this technology might be utilized on our other campuses."

Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia has become the first hospital in the U.S. to offer Amazon's Just Walk Out. Photo: Amazon Just Walk Out.

In mid-2021, an existing hospital coffee shop was turned into a retail market — SmartBytes — to provide a 24/7 food option for Candler employees. The addition of Amazon's Just Walk Out technology at SmartBytes creates a frictionless, cashless food market that's accessible to both Candler employees and hospital visitors at any time.

Candler employees and visitors can now enter the Just Walk Out technology-enabled retail store by swiping a credit card or an employee badge. They can then select from a range of food offerings, including prepackaged meals, snacks and drinks.

The technology detects which items are taken from or returned to shelves and creates a virtual shopping session. As they exit the store, the customer can leave without waiting in line, and their preferred payment — either a credit card or employee payroll deduct account — is charged for the items taken. This employee badge payment option is a first-of-its-kind offering for Just Walk Out technology.

The market is located near the emergency department.