Silicon Valley Meets the Stethoscope: Preparing for a Career in Technology-First Medicine

Abstract

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, technology-first healthcare companies have expanded rapidly, signaled most visibly by Amazon's $3.9 billion acquisition of One Medical in 2023. Defined by proprietary electronic health records, hybrid subscription and fee-for-service payment models, and a consumer-driven approach to care delivery, these companies represent a shift in how primary care is structured and who is accountable for patient outcomes. In this commentary, we define this evolving type of healthcare. I also examine their promises and limitations. They self-publish metrics suggesting meaningful positive patient outcomes and engagement. However, their figures remain lack peer review and prioritize short-term satisfaction over the longitudinal outcomes tracked by standardized measures such as HEDIS. I also consider how a healthcare model that may prioritize investor returns over the patient-physician relationship central to medical training can shape the kinds of physicians we choose to become. This commentary concludes with a call for medical students and trainees to critically engage with technology-first healthcare, thinking about what is at stake for patients and for the profession.