A research note from Wall Street bank Cowen suggests Amazon may not be targeting the pharmaceutical supply chain for its healthcare entrance, but instead, Amazon may be equipping its Alexa to assist with health needs, according to Business Insider.
Amazon applied for wholesale pharmacy licenses in at least 12 states last year, but Cowen's research showed some of those licenses have expired and no new licenses have been issued for 2018.
Cowen thinks Amazon may break into healthcare using its voice assistant, Alexa.
"We think a natural fit for Amazon could be incorporating its Alexa voice assistant for some health care needs," the Cowen researchers wrote. They suggest a possible application for Alexa could be helping book a telemedicine appointment. "We note, Teladoc is currently compatible with Alexa, and will allow you to schedule a televisit with Teladoc. The privacy of patient records are highly regulated, and Amazon may be seeking a professional that will help the company better understand its responsibility of patient information for data analytics."
Amazon recently hired Boston-based Iora Health's Martin Levine, MD, a geriatrician who operates in Seattle, and is looking for a HIPAA Compliance Lead.
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