Amazon Web Services

Transforming rural healthcare with AWS and our healthcare partners

AWS’ commitment to rural healthcare and proven results

Rural Americans are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for a system that works for their lives, not against them. At Amazon Web Services (AWS), we recognize that rural communities have historically been underserved, often viewed as cost-prohibitive to support. We believe every community deserves access to the same transformative technology, and we are committed to meeting rural customers where they are — bringing the power of the cloud to the communities that need it most.

Rural healthcare organizations across the country are leveraging AWS to transform care delivery and improve outcomes. Critical access hospitals have migrated Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems to AWS, achieving 99.9 percent uptime compared to 95 to 97 percent with on-premises infrastructure, while reducing total cost of ownership by 30 to 40 percent. Rural health networks have deployed telehealth platforms that deliver over 100,000 virtual visits annually, reducing specialty care wait times from 12 months to under 30 days. Population health programs have enrolled over 50,000 patients in remote monitoring programs, achieving 25 percent reductions in preventable hospitalizations.

Amazon has also committed over four billion dollars to expand rural delivery networks and is working to close the digital divide for rural communities through innovative connectivity solutions like Amazon Leo, a low Earth orbit satellite network designed to provide high-speed internet access to underserved areas.  Technologies such as Amazon Leo make cloud solutions possible and are critical to expanding rural health access.

What is the AWS healthcare mission and focus?

AWS has been providing world-leading cloud technologies since 2006 that help any organization or individual build solutions to transform industries, communities, and lives for the better. Healthcare is one of the industries AWS is working with to help hospitals and health systems transform via cloud solutions. Our healthcare mission is to enable access and delivery of person-centered care, drive improved outcomes at a lower cost, and accelerate the digitization and utilization of healthcare data.  AWS and our healthcare partners also look beyond just the daily healthcare needs to care for the whole person through health and human services solutions focused on: behavioral health, child welfare, health information exchange, integrated eligibility, Medicaid, public health, and social determinants of health (SDOH).  We also support social responsibility and impact initiatives, such as health equity, within the U.S. and around the globe.

AWS and our healthcare partners

AWS collaborates closely with our extensive healthcare partner ecosystem to deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions that combine AWS native cloud services with specialized healthcare applications and domain expertise. Our healthcare partners bring deep clinical knowledge, proven implementation methodologies, and industry-specific solutions that complement AWS infrastructure, enabling faster time-to-value and reducing implementation risk for rural healthcare organizations.

Learn more about AWS and healthcare partner solutions

Learn more about our AWS and healthcare partner solutions, services, customer stories, and podcasts at the following links:

Comprehensive cloud solutions for rural healthcare transformation

AWS and our healthcare partners are committed to advancing Rural Healthcare Transformation Program (RHTP) initiatives by providing solutions and services that:

• Bring more care within reach
• Strengthen and sustain the rural clinical workforce
• Modernize rural health infrastructure and technology
• Drive structural efficiency and empowering the community providers
• Advance innovative care models and payment reform

As rural hospitals, health systems, and states develop their Rural Healthcare Transformation Program strategies, AWS and our healthcare partners will collaborate to provide solutions and services that meet the nation’s major objectives. This collaborative approach addresses critical areas including:

• Telehealth and digital access through virtual care platforms and remote patient monitoring
• Workforce pipeline and retention technologies that support recruitment and training
• Chronic disease and prevention management platforms
• Behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment systems
• Maternal child health monitoring and care coordination tools
• Emergency management services including dispatch and trauma registry systems
• Electronic health records that enable interoperability across rural networks.

AWS and our healthcare partners also support:

• Value-based care and payment reform
• Health information exchange and interoperability development
• Care coordination and transfer improvements
• Cybersecurity protections against ransomware and data breaches
• Tribal and indigenous health populations

Additional focus areas include:

• Pharmacy services and medication therapy management
• Cardiometabolic disease prevention and treatment programs
• Mobile health units and pop-up sites for geographically isolated communities
• Transportation barrier solutions
• School and library-based access points
• Cancer screening and prevention programs
• Suicide prevention strategies
• Housing and homelessness support services
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for clinical decision support
• Medical imaging capabilities
• Revenue cycle solutions
• Payor solutions for claims processing and care management

Getting started with AWS for rural healthcare

AWS and our healthcare partners provide multiple pathways for rural healthcare organizations to begin their cloud journey. Organizations can start with targeted pilots in areas like telehealth, remote patient monitoring, or data analytics, demonstrating quick wins and return on investment before expanding to broader initiatives. AWS Professional Services and healthcare-focused partners provide implementation support, change management, and training to ensure successful adoption.

For state health agencies developing Rural Health Transformation Program solutions, AWS and our healthcare partners offer strategic planning support, reference architecture, total cost of ownership models, and partnership coordination to align cloud solutions with program goals and funding requirements.

AWS Rural Healthcare Contact:

Dr. Monica Coley, DHI, MPH

Email:  coleymo@amazon.com

Subject Line:  AWS Rural Healthcare Inquiry