Long have we heard about the “Uberization” of healthcare, so much so that the overused phrase has become stale.
But now, Uber itself has a new offering. The San Francisco company is launching Uber Health, a service that allows healthcare organizations to order rides for patients to get to and from appointments.
Healthcare organizations are billed each month for the cost of patient rides, which are on par with standard Uber rates at the time of the ride booking.
By utilizing Uber Health, care coordinators can set up rides a few hours in advance or up to 30 days in advance. They can also schedule and manage more than one ride at a time using the company’s HIPAA-compliant dashboard.
Patients don’t need the Uber app or a smartphone to utilize the offering. Everything is communicated via text, and Uber will be introducing a way for riders to get informed via cell phone or landline.
Additionally, the startup has developed an Uber Health API that allows the service to be integrated into existing products.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Both the service and the API are currently available throughout the country.
Currently, more than 100 healthcare organizations are piloting the service, including names like MedStar Health and Yale New Haven Health. Companies like Collective Health (which recently announced a $110 million fundraise) are seeking ways to bring Uber Health into their offerings.
This isn’t Uber’s first foray into healthcare.
The company started working with hospitals a while ago. It teamed up with MedStar in 2016 and joined forces with Trinity Health – New England in 2016.
A few years ago, Uber launched a concierge service that ferried flu shots to people. In 2017, it even let people request a doctor who would provide on-demand diabetes and thyroid tests.
The idea of Uber Health isn’t new, either.
Companies like Veyo and Circulation have already made their mark in the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) space. The aim of their services is to assist the 3.6 million Americans who miss or delay care due to transportation problems, according to the Community Transportation Association.
Lyft has also been edging its way into the healthcare realm as well. Late last year, it announced a collaboration with Circulation. Interestingly, Circulation has also worked with Uber.
Photo: lovro77, Getty Images
