This week marks the occasion of the 2023 ViVE conference in Nashville, Tennessee. ViVe is a “curated event experience for senior digital health leaders focusing on the business of healthcare systems,” bringing together a wide variety of pioneers. The conference is expected to generate monumental discussions around some of healthcare’s toughest problems.
As a part of its conference presentation, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced 23 startups that have been chosen for its Healthcare Accelerator Global Cohort for Workforce Development program.
The AWS accelerator was initially launched in November of last year, with the goal of “Driving new digital solutions for the global healthcare workforce,” specifically by supporting innovation to “focus on training, retaining, and deploying healthcare workers.”
In particular, the accelerator sought candidates innovating in the following areas:
- “Training workforce: This includes innovations that make learning more interesting and customized in areas such as continuous professional development (CPD) and rapid digital skill upskilling [...]
- Retaining workforce: This includes innovations that reduce individual workloads by removing friction from work processes and systems, and innovations that enable wellbeing and flexible working […and]
- Deploying workforce: This includes technologies that support new ways of working in healthcare in virtual wards, community settings, and home care settings [...]”
Once accepted into the program, the startups receive significant support: “The AWS Healthcare Accelerator is a virtual four-week technical, business, and mentorship program. Selected startups receive up to $25,000 in AWS computing credits, specialized AWS training, mentoring from healthcare domain and technical subject matter experts, business development, go-to-market guidance, investment guidance, and potential proof-of-concept opportunities with public sector healthcare customers. Startups are also able to hear from AWS customers and members of the AWS Partner Network.”
The chosen startups are: babblevoice, Compassly, DocAbode, Dropstat, eConsult, Florence, Grapefruit Health, Hypercare, InformMe, IoT Solutions Group, Kare Mobile, Momo Medical, Moonhub, Mytonomy, Navenio, Pathology Watch, Proximie, Rose Health, RxPlace, Squid iQ, Supportiv, The TeleDentists, and Visionable.
SANTA MONICA, CA - SEPTEMBER 6: Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Undoubtedly, the initiative is a positive effort in promoting innovation and the generation of new ideas. Amazon has been deeply invested in growing its presence in the healthcare space over the last few years. After conquering eCommerce for nearly the last decade, the company has invested billions of dollars in healthcare, most prominently with its Amazon Care initiative. Care was Amazon’s primary care pilot for employees, through which it provided telehealth and live medical services. However, unfortunately, Amazon soon shut down its Care program, citing that the solution was not ripe for scalability and longevity.
Nonetheless, this was not the demise of Amazon’s interests in the industry, but rather signaled a pivot. In an unprecedented move, Amazon recently purchased primary care company One Medical in a deal valued at nearly $3.9 billion, renewing its commitment to healthcare delivery. With this new venture, the company hopes to “deliver exceptional health care to more people to achieve better health outcomes, better care experiences, and more value, within a better care team environment.”
The startups in the accelerator stand to benefit significantly. Without a doubt, Amazon’s resources and tenure in the industry will bolster the reach, cache, and scope of services for these companies, providing them with the opportunity to scale their novel offerings.
Indeed, the time for this innovation is ripe. Burnout has been cited as one of the most prominent reasons behind healthcare worker attrition. In fact, the office of the U.S. Surgeon General has addressed this specifically as a key priority, explaining: “The realities of our health care system are driving many health workers to burnout. They are at an increased risk for mental health challenges and choosing to leave the health workforce early. They work in distressing environments that strain their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. This will make it harder for patients to get care when they need it.”
Ultimately, only innovation in the form of fresh and renewed ideas can hope to resolve some of these deep rooted problems. The hope remains that initiatives such as AWS’ startup accelerator can provide the resources and fuel necessary to pave the way for a better future ahead.
