Earlier this week, Uber Health announced another milestone in its mission to improve healthcare access: same-day prescription delivery.
The press release says: “For the first time, those who use Uber Health, including healthcare providers and health plans, will be able to manage prescription deliveries from any pharmacy in their service area through the same platform they already use to coordinate patient transportation. This launch enables providers to offer a complete suite of care solutions that go beyond the four walls of the clinic and are designed to improve patient experience and health outcomes.”
This is a significant step forward for Uber Health, as well as for the millions of people who otherwise lack regular access to healthcare. Notably, home delivery of medications is a major convenience factor for many, especially the elderly population who have difficulty with mobility or driving.
What’s more, beyond simple convenience, there’s an added benefit to medication adherence. A study by Express Scripts found that patients are more likely to actually take their medications regularly when they are delivered to their home. A study found that Medicare Part D patients taking medications for a combination of diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol who used a home delivery pharmacy were 59% more likely to adhere to each course of therapy with the home delivery medication. for than retail. » This shows the real value that consumers find in home delivery.
The Uber app.
Caitlin Donovan, global head of Uber Health, explains: “At Uber Health, we’re building solutions based on the lessons we’ve learned at healthcare companies operating with value-based care contracts. Too much time was spent making sure patients got a ride to their follow-up appointment, got the right prescriptions, or had access to food. […] That’s why I’m proud to add a scalable prescription delivery solution to our platform that enables care teams to completely close the loop. From prescription delivery and NEMT [non-emergency medical transportation] today, for healthy food and grocery delivery in the coming months, Uber Health remains committed to delivering a more connected care journey through a single, seamless platform.”
The delivery initiative was created in partnership with ScriptDrop, a healthcare technology company that connects pharmacies and delivery partners.
On a larger scale, Uber has been working hard to advance healthcare. Most importantly, the company prides itself on helping to “improve patient care by enabling healthcare organizations to organize trips and services on behalf of others using a centralized, easy-to-use dashboard, or API.” Similar to prescription delivery, many find it difficult to get to a doctor’s appointment or hospital. In this regard, Uber provides a much-needed service by enabling patients to better connect with healthcare facilities.
The company is ready to provide this service. According to Uber’s latest financial results released last month, gross bookings grew 19% year-over-year to $30.7 billion, and gross bookings for deliveries grew to $14.3 billion. These numbers show the sheer size and power of the Uber network, as well as the incredible infrastructure the company has built around the world.
With its extensive resources and network, Uber Health has a huge opportunity to create significant impact and can provide easier access to healthcare for millions of people. Now, with same-day prescription delivery, the company is one step closer to succeeding in its quest to improve last-mile healthcare delivery.