3 Ways Amazon Could Transform Health Care

Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN was reported last week to be building out a health and wellness team within its Alexa division to better integrate the assistant in health care.

Loup Ventures considers this program just the start of a broader, three-pronged invasion of the $3.3 trillion industry.

“Companies across the entire healthcare industry are quickly discovering that AI will be used in everything from operations to enhancing quality of life for patients,” Loup Ventures managing partner Andrew Murphy wrote in a note.

PBM Shakeups

The firm could transform logistics in the $453 billion pharmacy benefit management industry.

“Rising drug prices and rising drug demand has driven considerable backlash recently among American consumers,” Murphy wrote. “We feel this could be a golden ticket for disruption to a cost-conscious, logistics expert like Amazon.”

Provider Interactions

Alexa and Amazon’s artificial intelligence could support telehealth care programs and streamline paperwork to improve time spent with patients. At the same time, it could remind patients to take medicine, help manage care for diabetics or alert staff of emergencies.

“Imagine the safety, information, connectivity, and entertainment that an Alexa near every hospital bed could offer patients,” Murphy wrote.

Patient Data Networks

Amazon Web Services can provide storage, analytics and management tools for electronic health record systems. Cerner Corporation CERN already leverages Amazon’s data analytics to coordinate care.

Related Links:

Analyst: Why Diplomat Could Be Amazon's Ticket Into The Pharma Space

Amazon, Berkshire, And JPMorgan Are Creating A Heath Care Company: Here's What You Need To Know