Amazon One Medical, Montefiore Health System to open primary care clinics in New York

Amazon One Medical continues to build out its health system partnerships to expand its network of primary care clinics.

Montefiore Health System is now partnering with the company to open up access to primary and specialty care in New York’s Westchester County and surrounding areas.

Amazon, which bought primary care company One Medical in a $3.9 billion deal in 2023, will open its first primary care offices in Westchester County in affiliation with Montefiore next year, the companies announced Wednesday.

The primary care office will offer same and next-day appointment availability, on-site lab services and wraparound virtual care support for members, Amazon said.

This new relationship will enable patients to have increased access to seamless coordinated care through Amazon One Medical’s innovative care model and Montefiore’s high-quality network of specialists, hospitals, and facilities.

Montefiore and Amazon One Medical will determine where to open new facilities over the next several years, executives said.

Montefiore Health System provides medical care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley in New York. It comprises ten hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, and over two hundred outpatient ambulatory care sites. 

By teaming up with the online retail giant and its One Medical arm, Montefiore sees opportunities to offer more coordinated care by combining One Medical's primary care model and the health system's network of specialists, hospitals and facilities, the companies said in a press release.

Amazon One Medical can easily refer patients to Montefiore specialists when clinically appropriate, with the aim of avoiding duplicative testing, reducing costs, increasing efficiencies and improving health outcomes.

“As we look to the future of healthcare, our responsibility continues to be sustaining high-quality care that is delivered locally and in the most appropriate setting,” said Philip O. Ozuah, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO, Montefiore Einstein, in a statement. “Our collaboration with Amazon One Medical will enhance primary care offerings across the communities we serve and ensure those with needs for specialty care have the option to be seen and treated by our world-renowned clinicians.”

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 Montefiore to expand access to high-quality, seamless coordinated care for more residents in New York,” said Trent Green, Chief Executive Officer at Amazon One Medical in a statement. “Teaming up with Montefiore advances our mission of making it easier for more people to get and stay healthy, bringing our human-centered and technology-powered model to individuals and employers in Westchester and surrounding areas."

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. 

Following the 2023 acquisition of One Medical, Amazon has been focused on expanding its health system and employer partnerships to offer primary care services. In November 2023, Amazon announced a collaboration with CommonSpirit Health's Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to provide the online retailer's primary care patients with access to specialty care. It also revealed plans to expand its primary care model to New Jersey in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, the state's largest health network. 

Last year, the company teamed up with Cleveland Clinic to expand primary care services in northeast Ohio. 

Amazon One Medical also inked a major partnership with Health Transformation Alliance, expanding access to its primary care services to 67 employers and nearly 5 million employees. HTA is a collective of large U.S. employers, and its member companies include Coca-Cola, American Express, Marriott, Boeing and Intel.

The primary care provider is working with the online retail company's technology teams to develop artificial intelligence tools for its clinicians to help them save time. It rolled out real-world AI solutions that simplify provider workflows while enhancing patient experiences, the company announced at the HLTH 2024 conference in October.