According to the tech major, the new virtual health clinic will help patients by enabling them to select a health provider from a network of telehealth providers, based on their condition and preferences to avail consultation by using a secure message-based portal
Amazon launches virtual health service, Amazon Clinic. (Credit: Joe Mabel/Wikipedia.org)
Amazon has launched Amazon Clinic, a virtual health service in the US to provide treatment for over 20 common health conditions, including allergies, hair loss, and acne.
The message-based virtual care service will be available initially in 32 states.
According to Amazon, the new virtual health clinic will assist patients by enabling them to select a health provider from a network of telehealth providers, based on their condition and preferences.
The clinical leadership team of Amazon is said to have selected the telehealth providers after making them go through rigorous clinical quality and consumer experience assessments.
After selecting their health provider from the list of licensed telehealth providers, customers will have to undertake a short intake questionnaire. Through a secure message-based portal, customers and clinicians can then communicate directly.
Amazon claims to offer the flexibility to customers to message their physician anytime and from anywhere.
After the consultation, physician will send a personalised treatment plan through the portal. This includes any required prescriptions to the preferred pharmacy of the customer.
The virtual health care service does not accept health insurance and the cost of consultations will vary depending on providers, stated Amazon. After the initial consultation, the fee will cover ongoing follow-up messages with their physician for up to two weeks.
Some of the conditions treated by Amazon Clinic include asthma refills, migraines, urinary tract infections (UTIs), birth control, cold sores, conjunctivitis, eczema, genital herpes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and others.
In late 2020, Amazon introduced Amazon Pharmacy to deliver customers medications to their doors. In July 2022, the company signed a deal worth $3.9bn to buy One Medical, a US-based human-centred and technology-powered provider of primary care.