USA— From farm machinery to films and a lot of products and services in between, Amazon.com Inc. has expanded into the healthcare space by providing a virtual clinic that is now available in all 50 states and Washington D.C. across the USA.
Amazon Clinic was launched in November 2021 as a way to connect users with healthcare providers.
Amazon Clinic will now offer customers 24/7 access to clinicians directly through Amazon.com and the Amazon mobile app across the USA.
Moreover, the online platform has described that customers love the convenience of Amazon Clinic, giving it a 96% customer satisfaction rating.
The e-health service does not provide the healthcare services itself and instead supplies a platform to connect telemedicine partners with users.
The digital healthcare platform will offer customers 24/7 access to third-party healthcare providers directly on Amazon’s website and mobile app.
Amazon customers can receive telehealth treatment for dozens of common conditions, such as pink eye, urinary tract infections, and hair loss.
The company said that in addition to message-based consultations being available in 34 states, Amazon Clinic now supports video visits nationwide.
Unfortunately, Amazon Clinic currently does not accept insurance, but medication prescribed by clinicians may be covered by insurance.
Dr. Nworah Ayogu, the chief medical officer and general manager at Amazon Clinic said, “At Amazon, we want to make it dramatically easier for people to get and stay healthy, and we’re doing that by helping customers get the care and medications they need in the way that is most convenient for them.”
Dr. Ayogu added that as a doctor, he had seen firsthand that patients wanted to be healthy but lacked the time, tools, or resources to effectively manage their care.
He offered that Amazon provides multiple health services to provide the choice, convenience, and continuity of care customers need when it comes to their health.
Moreover, Dr. Ayogu added that the virtual service had removed all barriers by helping customers treat their everyday health concerns wherever they are, at any time of day, and allowing customers to see the cost before they start the visit.
Amazon’s foray into the healthcare space comes as other retailers have made similar moves, from CVS to Walgreens to Walmart.
The service will also face competition from urgent-care clinics that are popping up across the country as healthcare costs spiral and doctors’ visits for routine matters become impossible to book.
A huge number of telehealth startups grew out of the pandemic, although the market growth has begun to subside.
Amazon’s healthcare footprint
In recent years, Amazon has gradually been growing its footprint in the healthcare sector.
In 2020, the company launched its own digital drugstore, Amazon Pharmacy. Earlier this year, Amazon also closed its acquisition of healthcare provider One Medical in a US$3.9 billion deal.
Amazon had also partnered with JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway to provide better health care services and insurance at a lower cost to workers and families at the three companies, and possibly other businesses, too.
That effort, unfortunately, never got off the ground and ultimately shut down in 2021.
To get treatment, customers simply visit Amazon Clinic on the Amazon website or Amazon mobile app.
There, they can compare response times and prices from multiple telehealth provider groups, complete an intake form, and connect with their chosen provider.
Depending on the state in which they are located, customers can connect via messaging or video call—all without an appointment or insurance.
Through Amazon Clinic’s secure message portal or video call, the clinician will provide a recommended treatment plan, which may include a prescription.
Customers have the flexibility of filling their medication at Amazon Pharmacy with free shipping or at any other pharmacy of their choice.
“By creating a healthcare experience that is transparent and simple, we hope to make healthcare more accessible for all. We’re excited to bring Amazon Clinic to even more customers, and we’re working hard to make even more conditions available for treatment in the coming months,” Dr. Ayogu concluded.
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