Modern health care is changing rapidly. Nowadays, you can use your smartphone and an array of digital tools to do everything from checking your heart rate to getting personalized health tips. At the same time, the number of people using telehealth continues to grow.

Amazon Clinic is a form of telemedicine used to deliver medical services through text messaging. The types of ailments available for treatment through Amazon Clinic include common conditions, such as eczema and seasonal allergies, and you can have prescriptions renewed to help with conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

How Amazon Clinic Works

Several companies provide AI apps that can help monitor your health. Other tools, such as Google Health's self-assessment tool, open up access to research-supported surveys to help you diagnose yourself. However, Amazon Clinic takes a different approach by providing you with a way to connect with a real, qualified clinician who will evaluate your health and medical information, provide accurate treatment, and even prescribe medications that you can pick up at your local pharmacy.

Amazon Clinic does not require appointments, which means you are able to begin a visit with a doctor without the need for video calls or live chat at a time that's most convenient for you. You no longer need to wait days or weeks until you can get a prescription for something bothering you today or wait in line at the clinic in the hopes of seeing a doctor. Say goodbye to waiting rooms, other people's germs, and wasted time!

Graphic showing person finding treatment for common conditions on smartphone
Image credit: Amazon

The information that you provide to Amazon Clinic is reviewed by a certified clinician—qualified doctors and nurse practitioners—and you'll be able to see each clinician's professional credentials when they are assigned to your visit. Amazon also states that it evaluates clinics for quality before they become part of the program.

Getting Treated for Common Conditions

At launch, the list of conditions that you can receive treatment for is limited to those that are most common and easily treatable without the need for an in-person visit or video chat. Conditions include rosacea, yeast infections, and seasonal allergies, among others. However, it's possible that Amazon Clinic will expand to include treatment for conditions that require a doctor to visually assess you.

Treatment plans are developed after you follow a few simple steps. First, Amazon Clinic will ask you to answer a few questions related to the problem you are having and your health history. Amazon claims that this step only takes up to 10 minutes to complete. You will also need to submit a copy of your photo ID so that the clinician can verify your identity.

Graphic showing Amazon Clinic on Smartphone
Image credit: Amazon

After you submit your health information, a clinician will be assigned to your visit and will review the information you've submitted. Once reviewed, the clinician will recommend a treatment plan. Treatment plans may include prescriptions, but may also include over-the-counter treatments and self-care strategies.

Once you receive a treatment plan, you can contact the clinician responsible and ask any follow-up questions you may have.

Prescription Renewals Through Amazon Clinic

Getting prescriptions renewed works a little differently than treatments on Amazon Clinic. For example, you'll have to already have been prescribed the medication that you seek to renew. In the case of medications required for high blood pressure, you will need to provide a copy of a prescription that was issued in the last six months.

Clinicians will not be able to prescribe new medications or change medication doses, nor will they be able to order lab testing. You will however be able to follow up with a clinician following your prescription.

Graphic showing smartphone and Amazon Clinic
Image credit: Amazon

Much like receiving treatment for a condition, to get a prescription refilled through Amazon Clinic you will be asked to answer a few questions related to the medication you need as well as your health history. You will also need to submit a copy of your photo ID, as well as a photo or screenshot of your existing prescription that includes the name of the medication, the dose, and the date it was last filled.

For some prescription refills, you may be asked for additional information to support your request. In the case of high blood pressure medication, your clinician may require a recent blood pressure reading, a heart rate reading, or even the results of kidney function testing conducted within the past 12 months.

All the documents that you need to submit for each type of prescription are listed on the Amazon Clinic website, as are the costs associated with each drug (which vary by state). At launch, Amazon Clinic is only available in certain US states. The service does not provide narcotics or other medications listed as controlled substances and is not intended to be used to support people enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid.

Benefits and Risks of Using Amazon Clinic

Telemedicine services like Amazon Clinic have emerged as effective ways to deliver medical services through audio, text messaging, and video communication technology. The type of healthcare practiced through telemedicine already includes psychology, dermatology, and even some forms of emergency care. Telehealth can help your mental well-being, treat physical conditions, and give you peace of mind without the stress of making appointments.

However, telemedicine has both benefits and risks. Some of the major challenges are related to the level of care received by patients, the increased likelihood of misdiagnoses, and issues related to the collection and management of your personal health information. For these reasons, you might want to think twice and carefully consider whether Amazon Clinic is right for you before signing up.

So, Is Amazon Clinic Right for You?

Amazon Clinic is not designed to provide you with treatment for complex issues that require specialized equipment or in-person visits to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Instead, this service is designed to treat simpler conditions and provide routine prescription renewals.

If your healthcare needs are simple, and you've weighed the risks associated with telehealth, Amazon Clinic might save you the time and hassle associated with visiting a doctor in person.