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Amazon One Medical has launched its Health AI assistant in the One Medical app.
One Medical's Health AI agentic assistant answers health questions, books appointments, manages medications and explains lab results, according to Amazon.
It provides personalized health guidance based on a patient’s medical records. Clinical safeguards ensure members connect with providers when medical expertise is needed, Amazon said. The assistant connects patients to their provider via messaging or by booking a same or next day appointment.
The One Medical app is available to Amazon One Medical members.
Amazon promotes the agentic AI app as a way for patients to get personalized insights because it connects their complete medical records, lab results and current medications. This is protected with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant privacy and security safeguards, Amazon said.
Health AI in the One Medical app considers past healthcare concerns, test results, vaccinations and current medications.
Patients do not need to manually upload their personal information.
The app helps patients choose the right care option based on their specific situation, such as a virtual visit, an in-person appointment or urgent care.
Streamlining includes renewing medications through the Amazon Pharmacy.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Consumers are increasingly using AI tools to answer health-related questions, from understanding insurance coverage to checking symptoms.
According to a report released by generative AI (GenAI) giant OpenAI, more than 40 million people ask ChatGPT healthcare-related questions each day, with roughly 1.5 million to 2 million questions about health insurance submitted to ChatGPT each week.
Queries range from comparing health plans to handling billing issues, claims and price transparency.
Hospitals are reportedly concerned about misdiagnoses, a lack of context and inaccurate "hallucinations."
Amazon said Health AI is designed to complement, and not replace, the relationship between patients and their providers. One Medical’s clinical leadership has been involved in every stage of development, the company said, embedding multiple patient safety guardrails and clinical protocols, including for emergency and sensitive clinical situations.
THE LARGER TREND
This latest release of an agentic AI product for healthcare follows the launch earlier this month of OpenAI for Healthcare, a set of AI products that include ChatGPT for Healthcare.
ChatGPT for Healthcare has been rolled out to several health systems, including AdventHealth, Baylor Scott & White Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, HCA Healthcare, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and University of California, San Francisco.
ON THE RECORD
“The U.S. health care experience is fragmented, with each provider seeing only parts of your health puzzle,” said Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services. “Health AI in the One Medical app brings together all the pieces of your personal health information to give you a more complete picture – helping you understand your health, and supporting you in getting the care you need to get and stay well. Health AI makes getting healthcare easier and more convenient, so patients can focus on what matters most: their health.”
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org