Amazon Starts Virtual Health Referral Service Linking Patients to Doctors (bloomberg.com) 21
Amazon is starting a health referral service that seeks to link patients to virtual visits with providers who treat conditions like acne, hair loss and allergies. From a report: The initiative, called Amazon Clinic, is the Seattle company's latest effort to break into health care. It already operates an online pharmacy, and is in the process of buying 1Life Healthcare, which manages clinics under the One Medical brand, for $3.49 billion.
In a blog post announcing the service on Tuesday, Amazon called the new clinic a "virtual health storefront," connecting patients to "award-winning telehealth providers." The post didn't name those partners. The offering will be initially available in 32 US states and doesn't yet accept insurance, Amazon said. Patients select their condition, choose a provider from a list, and complete an intake questionnaire. From there, they connect directly to the provider through a "message-based portal."
In a blog post announcing the service on Tuesday, Amazon called the new clinic a "virtual health storefront," connecting patients to "award-winning telehealth providers." The post didn't name those partners. The offering will be initially available in 32 US states and doesn't yet accept insurance, Amazon said. Patients select their condition, choose a provider from a list, and complete an intake questionnaire. From there, they connect directly to the provider through a "message-based portal."
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra_and_Simulation
Why are we posting paywalled shit again? (Score:4, Insightful)
Slashdot should really have a rule against linking to news stories that are locked behind a paywall like Bloomberg or the New York Times.
Yes, I know that I can sign up for a free trial to view most of them... but I shouldn't HAVE to.
Re:Why are we posting paywalled shit again? (Score:4, Informative)
Here [archive.ph] you go.
And the inevitable diagnosis will be: (Score:1)
Top referrals. (Score:3)
Direct to consumer medical marketing has just made us believe we are all hideous depressed people who if only we had the right drug could be super. While this is sometimes true, these services just prey on the stupid
I love the ad where the only thing holding a guy back from opening his design business is hair loss.
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I think it speaks to how mentally unhealthy most of us are that these types of scams work on so many of us. I mean, I'm far from the poster child of mental health, and even I balk at the stupidity of the drug commercials we see in the United States. Why are they advertising directly to consumers in the first place? Because it works. We've spent generations now being told that if we just had the right balance of chemicals infused into us on a daily basis, everything would come up sunshine, roses, and puppies
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Amazon Basics (Score:2)
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You forgot the other major cost to doctors: medical malpractice insurance, which can cost as much as 40% of a doctor's gross income.
Cost to doctors? Sounds more like a problem for those running hospitals who need more two-legged profit centers with MDs running around their building.
I believe the term is employer-side expenses. Considering the doctor shortage, perhaps it's time to reconsider who picks up that cost of doing business.
Not all employee leverage was tied up in tech.
Re: Amazon Basics (Score:2)
And after that they should create an Amazon Basics java programmer school so java programmers are as plentiful and get paid as much as janitors.
See... isn't race to the bottom wonderful!
Maybe we could go full Bolshevik and pay doctors 1/2 of what a factory worker gets (real numbers from the Soviet Union circa 1960s-80s).
Only the already rich and those with political power can accumulate wealth. Everyone else would be paid just enough. And you should be the one deciding what "enough" is.
That's going to reall
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Right now you have to be rich to become a doctor. That reduces the pool of doctors considerably, driving up doctor wages both because of the shortage, and because doctors have to pay back massive student loans.
Right now and for the foreseeable future, the shortage is real as a result of COVID, and considerably impacting performance across the entire industry. Not exactly the best time to be semi-bragging about not-overloaded. Call for an appointment this year, and you'll be gifted with the Jedi mind trick of these are not the dates you're looking for.
At some point, Greed in charge of hospitals will remember that every doctor running around in the building, is a profit center. "Rich" being the obvious societal
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You laugh, but if Bezos wants to reduce health care costs, creating an "Amazon Basics Medical School"
I get this weird feeling this is a University of Phoenix joke, where the punchline is Bezos saying "Hold my beer..."
Only useful if ... (Score:4, Interesting)
I'd see value in this ONLY if they'd offer accurate, up-to-date options for patients to match up with doctors in their area for more serious needs. For example, try finding a child psychologist or a psychiatrist for medication management in a given city or town who takes insurance X and accepts new patients.
I bet you'll be surprised how difficult it is. Typically, the insurers like Anthem offer online directories but you'll find they're outdated and list phone numbers that are no longer in service, or send you to offices where the listed doctor isn't even practicing anymore.
Really, it's a dime a dozen finding some doctor or nurse practitioner willing to see you in a virtual visit about a cold/flu or skin care issue....
Hello Mr Smith. It's Alexa M.D. (Score:3)
"We've noticed that you bought products A, B and C in the past month and that your smart home sensors suggest that you started doing things D, E and F since the time of your first purchase. Our data suggests that customers who bought these products and shown these behaviours over a short period of time have an increased likelihood of developing ilness X, Y or Z. Would you like me to refer you to our specialist, Dr Jeff B. M.D. for a free 30-day consultation? Your first consultation is free and then it's just $9.99 a month. You can cancel at any time. No credit checks required. For more details see our Terms and Conditions. Unless you opt-out, your medical history may be used in medical studies and for further marketing purposes. For details on how to opt out, please see our Data Protection Policy page 199."
Really? (Score:2)
"who treat conditions like acne, hair loss..."
Hadn't the better to just give them the address of a Porsche dealer?
- fortunately I treat stupidity - (Score:2)
I have a feeling that many Amazon customers need my service, and now I have Amazon to send them my way.
No, I don't plug them into a machine or give them exotic drugs; it's just this one pound (0.45359237 KG) rubber hammer. A tap on the cuneus brain area each time the stupid person reaches for the idiotphone or calls for Alexa, and the IQ jumps another quarter point. Three days of head beatings usually cures the cellphone compulsion. Or causes death. In either case stupidity is usually cured.
Online therapy (Score:1)