PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Access to healthcare just got a whole lot easier for local shoppers at two Phoenix-area Safeway stores. Now when you stop in for a gallon of milk, you can also get that nagging cough checked out at the new Akos Med Clinic—using a self-guided medical station powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR).
Akos Med Clinic, a leader in the urgent care and telemedicine arenas, has partnered with Safeway to bring in-store medical clinics that are convenient and efficient for today’s busy shopper. The Safeway located just around the corner from Arizona State University, at 926 E. Broadway Road, opened on October 30. Plans are in place to expand this “clinic of the future” to 50 Safeway locations throughout Arizona by mid-2019 and to the other states, including Colorado, where Safeway has presence. A Glendale location, at 20205 N. 67th Avenue, is also now open.
This first-of-its-kind approach to healthcare delivery is achieved through technology developed by AdviNOW Medical combined with Akos’ virtual health platform. Many conditions routinely seen in doctor’s offices or urgent care centers can be quickly and effectively treated here such as sinus infections, earaches, sore throats, rashes, strains and sprains, or UTIs.
“In a time when digital health is rapidly evolving, we are excited to bring this unprecedented approach to virtual medical care,” says Akos CEO and co-founder Kishlay Anand, MD. “At Akos, we’re committed to improving access to high-quality medical care and this partnership will expand our telehealth offering beyond the capabilities of our telemedicine app by placing these clinics where consumers regularly shop.”
Here’s how it works: While sitting in front of a computer screen and a rack of simple-to-use, FDA-approved medical devices, patients are guided by AR through self-administered steps to collect data such as weight, temperature, blood pressure, and blood oxygen content, as well as ear, nose and throat images, and chest, lung and abdomen sounds. Follow-up questions are asked until the information necessary for diagnostic impression is collected. The total process typically takes less than 15 minutes. A complete patient work-up is sent electronically to an Akos healthcare provider with a breakdown of predicted illnesses and treatment options. Through a video consultation, the provider engages with the patient to confirm the AI-collected information, verify the diagnosis, and confirm or modify the treatment plan formulated by the system. A healthcare professional will also be on-site for assistance if needed.
Every detail of the encounter is automatically charted and scribed into the electronic medical record, improving accuracy and saving valuable time. The AI also sends the prescription and/or test orders to the appropriate healthcare partner, e.g., imaging centers, pharmacies, etc., and completes the billing process. In the appropriate timeframe, depending upon the diagnosis, the AI follows up with the patient to check health status and schedule a follow-up visit, if warranted.
“We believe our technology will solve the persistent problem of access to healthcare by making the patient and provider visit more efficient, allowing more patients to be seen in a day,” says AdviNOW Medical Founder and CEO James Bates. “Thanks to the AI, the collection and accuracy of the patient-visit data are significantly improved, impacting the overall quality and safety of the visit and overall health outcomes.”
This game-changing medical technology is homegrown. Arizona State University grads and current students working for AdviNOW Medical helped to develop the AI and AR tools. Ten ASU alumni and interns are current employees; eight others, who completed their internships and graduated, were involved earlier on.
“AdviNOW is such a great example of how innovative companies are looking to establish relationships in cities that will embrace trying new things and pushing boundaries,” said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell. “Akos and AdviNOW make accessing healthcare more convenient, and the technology will allow healthcare providers to treat more people at a lower cost. With partners like ASU and Safeway, AdviNOW’s services will benefit our community and potentially lay the groundwork for a new way of providing healthcare; we are excited to be part of launching this new concept.”
“Safeway is a local community grocery store and pharmacy that cares about the health and wellness of our customers,” said Joe Leyba, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy at Albertson Companies. “Our vision is that the Akos Med Clinic will increase access to care and help customers experience a one-stop shop for all their nutritional and medicinal needs.”
CONTACT
For more information or to schedule a tour of the clinics, please call Andrea Smiley, AdviNOW Medical, at 480-560-9214 or andrea.smiley@advinow.com or Shawn Smith, Akos, at 480-621-2324 or ssmith@akosmd.com.
ABOUT AKOS
Developed by a team of leading physicians, Akos launched its revolutionary telehealth platform in 2016. Named “2017 Innovator of the Year” at the Governor’s Celebration of Innovation, Akos powers a new type of virtual practice, offering a fully integrated HIPAA-compliant healthcare solution for patients, physicians, employers and medical centers across the United States. By combining smart technology, seamless design, a patient-centric approach, grassroots strategy and the collective power of a preferred provider network, Akos is reinventing the traditional healthcare model one virtual call at a time. Available 24/7, 365 days a year, Akos gives patients unparalleled access to licensed healthcare providers who provide care for a wide range of non-emergent conditions via a smartphone, tablet or desktop – no insurance or membership necessary. For more information or to download our app, visit www.AkosMD.com. For the latest news, health tips and more, follow Akos on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
ABOUT ADVINOW
Healthcare has been slow to operationalize technological innovation. How we engage with providers today is not much different than decades ago. This has led to wasteful inefficiencies, persistent poor health outcomes, and out-of-control costs. AdviNOW Medical is changing this paradigm. Winner of the AZBio Fast Lane Award, AdviNOW Medical uses Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality to power a patient-friendly medical station to evolve and improve the healthcare encounter—resulting in reduced overhead, greater patient through-put, billing timeliness and efficiency, and faster value-based, incentivized data collection. The lead investor in AdviNOW Medical is GlobalMed. For more information, visit www.advinow.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
