Responding to competition from Amazon as well as connecting patients to providers may be Google's two next moves in healthcare, argues Adam Dorfman, head of product growth at customer experience technology company Reputation in an April 28 article for VentureBeat.
Mr. Dorfman first suggests that Google may respond to Amazon's recent deal with Teladoc by also pushing into the virtual care space. Amazon, in partnership with Teladoc, announced it would facilitate telehealth services through its virtual assistant Alexa via voice commands. Mr. Dorfman argues that Google has all the technological capabilities to achieve something similar available through its own Google Assistant software and Reserve with Google.
He also argues that he expects Google to leverage its Google Business Profiles to help connect patients with providers. These profiles currently act as an important way for local businesses to grow and gain customers and be seen during local searches. Mr. Dorfman suggests that Google could make the business profiles of providers essential to the patient experience, expanding them to allow for reviews, chats and appointment scheduling.