Google takes $100M plunge into telehealth

Dave Pearson | | Health Exec | Telehealth
Smartphone mHealth. Updated Twitter policies have helped online pranksters cause mischief in recent days, including one specific user who impersonated Eli Lilly and Company and posted that insulin was now free. Lilly CEO has now commented on the fake tweet read 'round the world—and what it could mean for the company going forward. 

Google Cloud is injecting $100 million into a supplier of telehealth platforms, partly to build out AI systems for helping hospitals remotely handle patient inquiries, intake and triage.

The Silicon Valley behemoth and Boston-based Amwell jointly announced their multipronged plans Aug. 24.

Google Cloud says the $100M investment will be contingent on the closing of Amwell’s upcoming IPO, which also was announced this week.

Among related aims the pair will pursue are translation services via natural language processing, collaboration tools to facilitate staff communications and patient engagement, and data analytics methodologies to monitor patients in homecare settings.

The partnership will allow Amwell (formerly American Well) to refine and scale its telehealth offerings for providers, insurers and patients in current and prospective Amwell markets, according to the joint announcement.

In addition, the partnership will seek to simplify healthcare processes for underserved populations while also helping healthcare workers serve seniors and patients with chronic conditions “in a dramatically new way without compromising on care quality or user trust.”

 

 

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Dave Pearson
Dave Pearson

Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.

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