In addition, IT staff members from around the university have volunteered to set up hundreds of Fire tablets Amazon has donated to the state. These also will be transferred to hospitals and medical facilities around the area.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe intention is to provide all hospitals across the state with the tablets, and then also provide hospice centers and nursing homes,\u201d said Ian Lester, manager of Technology Services for the College, who is heading up URI\u2019s involvement in the project. \u201cThe goal is to help connect patients suffering with the disease with their family and loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
The initiative began when the Rhode Island Medical Society<\/a> put out a call for extra devices on behalf of Covid Connectors<\/a>, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to helping COVID-19 patients communicate while in isolation. Lester located 35 iPads not currently being used by College personnel. He formatted the iPads, set up Apple IDs, uploaded necessary software like Zoom, and delivered them to Lifespan.<\/p>\n Amazon also stepped up after RI Commerce<\/a> put out the call for devices. The online retailer is donating 540 of its Fire tablets for use at Rhode Island hospitals. Lester has stepped in again, organizing IT staff members from around the university to assist in getting the tablets ready for use. Lester is picking up the tablets as they are delivered and bringing them to tech staff for formatting, in addition to preparing dozens of them himself.<\/p>\n \u201cOur intent is that when we hand one over, it is all ready to turn on and use,\u201d Lester said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want it to be difficult or stressful for the patients and volunteers who are already in stressful situations. We want them ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Lester has also arranged for on-going support, recruiting URI\u2019s IT Service Desk<\/a> to field help calls and service the tablets.<\/p>\n