AWS Brings Agentic AI to Healthcare Via Amazon Connect Platform
In Focus
- Amazon Connect is a HIPAA-eligible platform
- The AI platform automates repetitive tasks like patient verification
- The agent-powered platform integrates with electronic health record software
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched an AI-powered platform called Amazon Connect Health. According to TechCrunch, the agent-powered platform is designed to support automation of repetitive tasks in the healthcare sector. Organizations can use the AWS healthcare AI platform to complete tasks like appointment scheduling, patient verification, documentation.
The First Regulated Agentic Platform
As a HIPAA-eligible platform, AWS’ AI agents for patient management becomes the regulated product to offer AI agents that complete tasks. The platform uses existing health clinician software to support administrative workflows like medical coding and history reviews for healthcare providers.
According to the cloud service provider, Amazon AI Connect Health integrates well with electronic health record (EHR) software. Already, the cloud service company is collaborating with EHR software providers, patient engagement firms, and data integrators.
Currently, AWS has rolled out patient verification and documentation features. Others like medical coding, patient insights and appointment scheduling are available in preview with full roll-out to customers expected later. AWS is charging a $99 monthly fee per user.
For this fee, healthcare providers get a maximum of 600 encounters. The cloud service provider said on average, the majority of primary healthcare providers have 300 encounters each month.
AI Firms Focus on the Health Sector
AWS launched the new AI agent at a time when AI companies are increasingly getting into the healthcare industry. Earlier this year OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health, a chatbot version that customizes responses to health queries.
ChatGPT Health also enables users to connect wellness apps and medical records to the AI chatbot, giving users a unified and cohesive experience when querying about health-related issues.
Anthropic also unveiled Claude for Healthcare, an AI-powered platform that offers tools to medical professionals. Unlike Amazon Connect Health, Claude for Healthcare and ChatGPT Health are designed to work with HIPAA-compliant products. Last year, Google personalized wellness with the FitBit AI coach, a tool that turns health data into health insights.
Another AI-powered platform, OpenEvidence, makes quality health data accessible to physicians. The platform, which recently raised $250 million, uses data and content from leading scientific journals to train its AI models and is used by 40% of physicians in the U.S.
AWS’ AI healthcare automation tool will also be competing with platforms like Regard and Notable. As an AI-powered tool, Regard makes it easy for doctors to take notes and capture patient data. Notable, on the other hand, automates patient intake and scheduling
AWS’ Expansion in the Healthcare Sector
AWS has been expanding its footprint in the $5 trillion U.S. healthcare sector for over a decade. In 2018, the cloud service giant launched Amazon Comprehend Medical, a natural language processor for unstructured medical data.
In 2021, AWS introduced Amazon HealthLake, a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources infrastructure that helps to organize health data. Both platforms are HIPAA-eligible. In 2022, AWS launched a bioinformatics workflow platform called HealthOmics.
Additionally, Amazon acquired digital pharmacy PillPack in 2018, and One Medical, a primary care firm. The company has already integrated sections of these businesses into its retail operations through features like same-day delivery and virtual doctor visits.
