Amazon Now Dispenses Prescriptions From Vending Machines
▼ Summary
– Amazon is installing prescription drug vending machines at its One Medical clinics, enabling patients to collect medications like antibiotics and inhalers right after appointments.
– The kiosks will launch in Los Angeles in December and expand to other locations, stocking medications based on each office’s prescribing patterns but excluding controlled substances and refrigerated drugs.
– This initiative aims to reduce prescription abandonment by eliminating extra pharmacy trips, allowing patients to start treatments immediately after seeing their provider.
– Patients can have prescriptions sent to Amazon Pharmacy for kiosk pickup, verified by pharmacists, and use a QR code in the Amazon app to collect drugs in minutes.
– Users will have access to pharmacy team consultations via phone or video, while traditional pharmacies face closures that limit in-person prescription access.
Amazon is launching prescription-dispensing vending machines at its One Medical clinics, offering patients a convenient way to pick up common medications immediately after their doctor’s visit. This new service, available starting in December at Los Angeles locations, provides a streamlined alternative to traditional pharmacy visits. Patients can receive antibiotics, inhalers, and blood pressure medications directly from these in-office kiosks, eliminating the need for an extra trip to a separate pharmacy.
The company has clarified that the kiosks will not carry controlled substances or drugs requiring refrigeration. Instead, the available inventory will reflect the prescribing habits of each specific clinic. Once a healthcare provider sends a prescription to Amazon Pharmacy, a company pharmacist verifies the order. Patients then use a QR code from the Amazon mobile app to retrieve their medication from the kiosk in a matter of minutes.
Hannah McClellan, President of Amazon Pharmacy Operations, emphasized the importance of this initiative. She noted that many prescriptions go unfilled when patients are required to make an additional stop at a pharmacy after their appointment. By integrating pharmacy services directly into the point of care, Amazon aims to remove this significant barrier, ensuring patients can begin their treatments without delay.
Beyond the physical pickup, the service includes access to pharmacy team support. Patients can connect with Amazon pharmacists via phone or video call to discuss medication-related questions, mirroring the support available at a traditional pharmacy counter. This expansion occurs as many established pharmacy chains face operational challenges. Several Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens locations have closed in recent years, reducing convenient access to in-person prescription services for many communities.
(Source: The Verge)