People perpetually ask, “Which company will become ‘the' Uber of health care?” As of March, one company announced its intention to at least become “an” Uber of health care. Appropriately, the company entering the fray is … Uber.
Ridesharing's pioneer company has launched UberHealth. The new venture effectively grafts its core business onto health care by providing transportation for patients to appointments at doctors' offices, hospitals, clinics and rehab centers. The service differs from Uber's familiar ridesharing business in that the medical providers will arrange the rides. The patient/passengers will not need the UberHealth app, and they won't even need a smartphone.
UberHealth's specific service could conceivably contribute as much to Americans' health as a new drug or surgical procedure. American patients have a high no-show rate for medical appointments (one-third, according to Uber). Wasted appointment times cost providers money, which, like other operating expenses, gets passed on to all of us.
More important, a no-show can also mean that the patient forgoes important care or fails to follow through on regimens previously prescribed by providers. Actually making it to scheduled appointments has the potential to save lives and reduce suffering.
