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Amazon continued its expansion into healthcare services last week with its announcement of Amazon Clinic. This new service will pair people with virtual healthcare providers to offer treatment for 20 common ailments.
About Amazon Clinic
Amazon Clinic is a new service that links patients with virtual healthcare providers to treat common medical conditions. With Amazon Clinic, patients don’t have to wait for a doctor’s appointment or visit an urgent care center. They can now have their medical needs addressed any time, day or night.
Amazon doesn’t provide healthcare. Instead, it uses Amazon Clinic to connect patients with licensed healthcare professionals virtually. Currently, Amazon Clinic is available in 32 states in the U.S. and the company has plans to expand to other states “in the coming months.”
Amazon describes Amazon Clinic:
Amazon Clinic operates as a virtual health storefront, bringing together clinical offerings from national, award-winning telehealth providers. Customers can select the third-party telehealth provider that best meets their timeline and budget, then connect directly with a licensed clinician who can provide a message-based consultation and prescribe treatment.”
To use Amazon Clinic, go to clinic.amazon.com, sign into your Amazon account, choose a four-digit PIN, then select one of the medical conditions, Amazon Clinic will suggest telehealth providers who will be able to help you, along with the prices they charge.
At launch, Amazon Clinic doesn’t accept health insurance. Amazon says, “These prices are set by the providers, not Amazon Clinic. Consultations include ongoing follow-up messages for customers with their clinician for up to two weeks after the initial consultation. In many cases, the cost of care is equivalent or less than the average copay.”
The Amazon Clinic telehealth provider may prescribe medicine for the condition, which the patient can get filled at any pharmacy, including Amazon Pharmacy. The cost of medicine prescribed via Amazon Clinic may be covered by the patient’s insurance.
Conditions Covered by Amazon Clinic
According to Amazon, these common medical conditions are covered by Amazon Clinic:
Amazon Clinic will focus on common conditions that are effectively treated using virtual care, including: acne, asthma refills, birth control, cold sores, conjunctivitis, dandruff, eczema, erectile dysfunction, eyelash growth, genital herpes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hyperlipidemia refills, hypertension refills, hypothyroidism refills, men’s hair loss, migraines, motion sickness, rosacea, seasonal allergies, sinusitis, smoking cessation, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and yeast infections. Over time, we’ll continue working to offer Amazon Clinic support for other conditions.“
Also see => Amazon Launches RxPass: a $5 Generic Prescription Drug Subscription Program for Prime Members
Privacy
Personal health data can be extremely sensitive, so you may be interested in how Amazon Clinic handles patient privacy.
Amazon addresses the data privacy issue with this statement: “We care deeply about customer privacy and data security. We have extensive experience protecting data of all kinds appropriately across a variety of businesses and remain focused on the important mission of protecting customers’ health information. We have stringent customer privacy policies and comply with HIPAA and all other applicable laws and regulations”
While there are currently no reports of Amazon Clinic data privacy issues, some are concerned that Amazon does not go far enough to protect patient data privacy. See, The Washington Post, To become an Amazon Clinic patient, first you sign away some privacy
Your Thoughts
Do you like the idea of having 24/7 access to virtual healthcare via Amazon Clinic? Would you use Amazon Clinic for some of your healthcare needs?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
This is fraught with potential for disaster, and at the same time, the concept makes sense for minor medical issues.
It’s incumbent on the user to be sure to know when to convert the treatement to a professional setting, should the “home remedy” not work.
The question I will always have is of the “what if…?” variety:
What if I am wrong, what if I’m misreading my symptoms, what if I’m presenting symptoms for two entirely different maladies? Self daignosis can go teribly wrong.
First of all, let me just say how delighted I am to have come across your article about the Amazon Clinic. It’s not every day you hear about a tech giant venturing into the world of healthcare. As a longtime follower of your blog, I always appreciate your insights into the latest tech trends, and this piece truly piqued my interest.
Great idea fir minor issues shame they don’t offer health care.
Hi Alison, Yes, I do think that any issue other than a minor one would be best treated by an in-person visit. But if Amazon Clinic can provide medical services to people who wouldn’t otherwise have any options, then that will be very helpful!
I find Amazon’s initiative to test warning labels about frequently returned products to be a commendable step toward ensuring customer satisfaction and informed purchases. As an avid online shopper, I understand the frustration and inconvenience that can arise when receiving a product that doesn’t live up to expectations.
While return policies have always been in place to facilitate customer returns and exchanges, the introduction of warning labels provides an extra layer of transparency. It allows potential buyers to make more informed decisions by highlighting the likelihood of an item being returned frequently. This is particularly valuable for products that may have inherent flaws, sizing issues, or other factors that lead to customer dissatisfaction.
By prominently displaying such information, Amazon is empowering consumers to weigh the potential risks associated with purchasing a particular product. It encourages buyers to thoroughly consider product descriptions, reviews, and ratings, enabling them to make educated choices that align with their preferences and needs.
Furthermore, this move benefits sellers as well. By offering clear warnings about frequently returned items, sellers can potentially reduce the number of returns and enhance customer satisfaction. This, in turn, can foster stronger relationships between sellers and buyers, promoting trust and confidence in the marketplace.
Of course, it is crucial that these warning labels are implemented fairly and accurately. The criteria for identifying frequently returned products should be based on reliable data and take into account various factors such as product quality, sizing accuracy, and misleading descriptions. Amazon must ensure that the warning labels are not misused or manipulated by sellers as a means to discourage potential customers.
Overall, I believe that Amazon’s test of warning labels for frequently returned products has the potential to enhance the online shopping experience. By providing transparency and empowering consumers to make informed choices, this initiative can contribute to a more satisfying and efficient marketplace for both buyers and sellers alike.