Better known for its smartphones and watches, Apple Inc. has announced it will soon open two healthcare clinics to provide services to some of its 120,000 employees and their families in America. The internal health clinics will be part of what will be known as the AC Wellness Network which will operate independently from Apple but which will be situated in the same location as Apple’s headquarters in America.
The clinics are expected to offer primary care services as well as onsite lab tests. According to its website, the AC Wellness Network is currently advertising for candidates who have a “passion for integrating best clinical practices and technology in a manner that drives patient engagement”.
Also recently announced is a partnership between three large American organisations including Amazon. Their intention is to create a new company which aims to cut health care costs and improve access to health services for their employees. The new company’s initial goal will be to target technological solutions with a focus on reducing the burden of healthcare on the American economy while also improving outcomes for employees and their families.
In America, it is usually the employer that bears the cost of healthcare through group health insurance. Employers can typically get better rates for health insurance because they cover a large number of people which can result in greatly reduced premiums. Premiums vary on the size and location of the organisation, and the demographics of the employees. Many companies offer to pay a portion or all of their employees’ premiums as part of an employment package. Consequently, reducing health costs through better access to primary care is something that has been investigated by some organisations previously including Microsoft and Google.
Interest in healthcare
Both Apple and Amazon have been noted for making moves into healthcare over the past year. Amazon, well-known for its ground-breaking logistics and distribution methods, has been investigating the drug supply chain with the aim of reducing the cost of pharmaceuticals for its employees. Amazon is also reported to have a team dedicated to exploring platforms for electronically recorded medical data, telemedicine and health apps.
Meanwhile Apple has been developing Apps which claim to provide easy access to critical health information to support health professionals deliver care to patients. The products allow doctors to view lab results and images, as well as securely send and receive communications with other health care providers. Apps for patients allow people to monitor their health through wearable trackers and store their health data to share directly with their care providers.