Amazon's Amazon Web Services (AWS) just unveiled Amazon Connect Health, which is basically an AI assistant tailored for healthcare organizations. Imagine this thing tackling all those tedious, repetitive admin tasks that clog up the system. We're talking appointment scheduling, paperwork, verifying patient info – the kind of stuff that nobody loves doing.

This isn't Amazon's first foray into healthcare; they've been sniffing around for a while. It's a smart move, considering the insane amount of money floating around in the US healthcare industry. Amazon already has tools like Amazon Comprehend Medical (for understanding medical text) and Amazon HealthLake (for organizing health data). However, this new Amazon Connect Health platform looks like their boldest step.

What sets it apart is the use of AI agents. Think of them as digital helpers that can handle complex tasks. For example, Amazon Connect Health can work with existing doctor software to manage things like reviewing patient histories and handling medical coding, helping to streamline the process for providers. Right now, it can verify patients and generate documentation. More features are coming soon, like appointment scheduling and ways to glean insights from patient data.

How much will it cost?

The price tag is $99 per user per month, which covers up to 600 "encounters" (patient interactions) a month. According to Amazon, that should cover most primary care physicians since they have about 300 encounters a month.

However, Amazon's cloud business isn't the only area where they're making moves in healthcare. They bought PillPack (an online pharmacy) and One Medical (a primary care company). You can even get same-day prescription delivery and virtual doctor visits for your kids through Amazon now.

Using AI to lighten the load of administrative tasks in healthcare is a popular target, even before the recent AI craze. Startups like Regard and Notable have been working on similar solutions. Regard uses AI to take notes for doctors and analyze patient data, while Notable automates intake and scheduling.

Even bigger AI players are jumping in. OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health, a version of its chatbot that answers health questions. Anthropic has Claude for Healthcare, which gives medical advice to patients, but also provides tools for medical professionals. Amazon Connect Health will certainly have some strong competitors.

It's important to note, these AI tools aren't just for patients. They are designed to help medical professionals, and some, like Amazon Connect Health, are HIPAA-compliant, ensuring patient data is handled securely. It seems like the integration of AI into healthcare is only just beginning.