Carolyn Vigil

Every year, an estimated 3 million Americans receive home healthcare services, with the majority being over the age of 65. These programs often improve health outcomes, but they also carry risks. Patients may fall, miss medications, or face complications that lead to hospitalization. Researchers at Columbia University’s School of Nursing are exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) could help predict and prevent such events.

Government and non-profit organizations evaluating grant proposals face a significant challenge: sifting through hundreds of detailed submissions, each with unique merits, to identify the most promising initiatives. This arduous, time-consuming process is typically the first step in the grant management process, which is critical to driving meaningful social impact. The AWS Social Responsibility & Impact (SRI) team recognized an opportunity to augment this function using generative AI.

On March 17, Carolyn Vigil’s husband, James, became the first person in West Virginia to be diagnosed with COVID-19, meaning every U.S. state now has at least one confirmed case. Carolyn, who is 55 and now experiencing symptoms herself, spoke with TIME about the long road to getting James, 53, tested—and the even more circuitous path to getting his results. Their story began on March 12, when James awoke with what seemed like a bad cold.