Future of Pharmacy Run By Google And Amazon?

Will Google and/or Amazon help run the dispensary of the future?

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Kenny

Will Google and/or Amazon help run the dispensary of the future?
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Google recently announced the availability of Google Home, their new voice activated speaker that has built-in software that acts like your personal digital assistant (think Jarvis from Iron Man movies, but significantly less capable and sarcastic). It reminded me that the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is becoming more mainstream and reaching more of our personal devices. You may have already heard of technologies like Alexa, Google Now, Siri, S Voice, etc. These technologies are placed in a physical standalone device (e.g. like a speaker that you place on your kitchen table) and interact with you to assist with all facets of daily life.  

Some of the features of these new devices include playing music and adjusting audio, setting appointments, reminding you of the weather and whether to bring an umbrella, making calls and more. You can also ask questions to the devices and it will comb the internet for the answer. 

Some of the features Google Home devices are capable of

These devices are also starting to dabble into healthcare. They have neat gimmicky features like spouting random medical facts, or directing you verbally though a 5 minute workout, but there is a lot of potential for a lot more interactivity. 

As a pharmacist, my perspective is medications, and this industry is where this technology can have a big impact.

My friend and colleague Brandon wrote an article about one of the many implications of Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods. Be sure to check it out here: goo.gl/oNRC6X

Amazon is already an expert in product distribution logistics. It has also shown a great interest in placing artificial intelligence into homes. These devices learn more about their users to help with their daily tasks but also (presumably) to sell them more stuff. Depending on Amazon's goals, with investment in automation and pharmacy benefits management/processing, it could have a great impact on the future of pharmacy.

Here are a few technology-related ideas that would integrate well with evolving AI and our very own "personal assistant":

1. ​Workflow tracking. I can already order a pizza from Domino's with one-click from my phone and track its preparation. Similar technology for pharmacy workflow already exists. Gone will be the days where a patient calls the pharmacy to check if their prescription is ready...or the pharmacy calls the patient. Their personal assistant will tell them if it's ready. 
2. Management and coordination of refills. Similar technology to "Med Sync" or MedSync and a computer algorithm will ensure refills (and refill requests) are synced together.
3. Increased "central fill". The practice of an centralized "warehouse" filling medications for many different pharmacies already exists and will continue to reduce costs through efficiency and automation.
4. Greater use of applications to manage and track health. I presented an intro to healthcare smartphone apps at an OPA Lunch & Learn several years ago and since then many blood sugar monitoring devices are now interconnected with smartphones and even the broader "cloud". This is only the beginning of "connectedness" in personal healthcare.​​

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Here are a few real-life scenarios that could happen within the next few years. Each scenario highlights different features and the reality could easily be a combination of different scenarios:

Scenario One:

1. "Ok Google, I need a refill on my meds"
2. "Ok, tell me the names or the prescription numbers"
3. "Fill my cholesterol medication and prescription number 9054564. I want to pick it up in an hour"
4. "Ok"
5. The local pharmacy receives an alert on their dispensing system to refill your medications. Pharmacy staff can also listen to the audio clip to verify what you said, in case there is confusion
6. The pharmacy fills the medication, and has it ready for pick-up

Scenario Two:

1. "Alexa, do I need to refill any of my meds?"
2. "Hello. According to my records, you are due for a refill, would you like it delivered for tomorrow?"
3. "Sure, deliver it to my home"
4. Alexa sends an alert to Amazon's central fill warehouse where it fills, packages and labels your prescriptions, and delivers it the next day
5. "Alexa, I have a question about my meds"
6. "Sure, I will connect you to John the pharmacist"
7. John, sitting in an office at home or elsewhere, speaks to you through the Alexa speaker and on screen (phone, TV, laptop, or other monitor).

Scenario Three: 

1. "OK Google, my doctor wrote me a new prescription. Can you send it to the pharmacy?"
2. "Sure, please use your phone to take a photo of the prescription"
3. The photo gets sent to Amazon's central fill pharmacy, or local pharmacy.
4. New medication is sent to you. You give the original to the driver with your old medications. The pharmacist follows up with a telephone or video call for counselling.

Scenario Four:​

1. "Hey Alexa, I just used my last tomato soup, can you order five for me?"
2. "Sure, show the bottle to the camera or scan the UPC"
3. "How much is my cart right now?"
4. "You have five cans of tomato soup, one wireless mouse, one bottle of shaving cream for a total of $24.65 after tax. Would you like to purchase more for free shipping?"
5. "What do you suggest?"
6. "You could refill your insulin, you may be due for a refill."
7. "OK refill that, and I want the deliver for tomorrow evening. Anything else?"
8. "Your nephew Rob has a birthday next week, our most popular toy this season is the Tonka truck. Would you like to order one?"

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Sources:
https://madeby.google.com/home/
https://www.amazon.com/meet-alexa/b?ie=UTF8&node=16067214011