Academic health system Cleveland Clinic is teaming up with an industry disrupter to expand primary care services in northeast Ohio.
Amazon, which bought primary care company One Medical in a $3.9 billion deal in 2023, will open its first primary care office in affiliation with Cleveland Clinic next year, the companies announced Monday.
The primary care office will offer same and next-day appointment availability, on-site lab services and wraparound virtual care support for members, according to the company.
Cleveland Clinic and Amazon One Medical will determine where to open new facilities over the next several years, executives said.
By teaming up with the online retail giant and its One Medical arm, Cleveland Clinic sees opportunities to offer more coordinated care by combining One Medical's innovative care model and the health system's network of specialists, hospitals and facilities, the companies said in a press release.
“This collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment from both organizations to meet the needs of our patients and to enhance the care we provide to our communities,” said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., Cleveland Clinic CEO and president, who holds the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair. “Amazon One Medical will complement our current primary care offerings, enabling patient access to essential health services.”
Along with its brick-and-mortar clinics, Amazon One Medical offers members 24/7 virtual care services through its mobile app, including on-demand video visits, secure provider messaging, “Treat Me Now” digital assessments for common health concerns, vaccine and medical record access, prescription renewals and proactive reminders for follow-up care and referral needs.
"We look forward to collaborating with Cleveland Clinic to deliver a high-quality patient experience and seamless continuation of care across all settings to deliver the highest levels of health, care, and value,” said Trent Green, CEO at Amazon One Medical, in a statement. “Teaming up with Cleveland Clinic advances our mission of improving the health care experience, bringing our human-centered and technology-powered model to individuals and employers in the greater Cleveland area.”
Along with its direct-to-consumer business, Amazon One Medical also works with more than 10,000 employers that sponsor membership fees as a benefit for their employees and their dependents, according to the company.
The move to more closely partner with a major academic health system comes as other big retail players are struggling to find the right strategy for their primary care investments.
In the past four years and during the COVID-19 pandemic, many retailers had ambitions to expand their businesses into providing healthcare services. Now, those same companies are pulling back. Walgreens plans to reduce its stake in VillageMD and is exploring options including a sale of all or part of the VillageMD businesses, possible restructuring options and other strategic opportunities, according to a regulatory filing.
Walmart shuttered all 51 of its Walmart Health centers along with its virtual care services.