In a world where technology is rapidly transforming industries, healthcare is no exception. Digital health startup Forward, led by co-founder Adrian Aoun, is on a mission to revolutionize how people access medical care. With a fresh injection of $100 million in funding, Forward is betting big on its latest innovation: the “CarePod”—an AI-powered healthcare kiosk designed to bring medical check-ups to malls across the country.
Redefining Healthcare
Adrian Aoun doesn’t believe in traditional doctor’s offices. In fact, he envisions a future where healthcare is driven by technology, much like Elon Musk’s vision for self-driving cars. Aoun’s creation, the CarePod, is an 8×8-foot metallic kiosk that aims to automate the primary care experience. Patients can unlock the pod with their phones, step inside, and follow prompts from a large screen as a robotic voice guides them through various health assessments, such as body scans, blood pressure readings, and finger prick blood draws.
“Slowly but surely, we’re just migrating every single thing from doctor and nurse to hardware and software,” Aoun explains. His goal is to eliminate the need for traditional doctor’s offices altogether.
However, despite Aoun’s disdain for the conventional healthcare model, Forward’s business still relies on it. The company currently charges $149 per month for a combination of virtual and in-person primary care at its 17 clinics across nine states and Washington, D.C. But with the introduction of the CarePod, Forward aims to scale its reach exponentially, offering a more automated, accessible form of healthcare.
The CarePod Experience
The CarePod is Forward’s attempt to fully automate the check-up process. While the technology inside the pod handles the diagnostics, licensed medical professionals still play a crucial role behind the scenes. These professionals review the data collected by the pod and interact with patients via video or chat to interpret the results and provide guidance.
For $99 a month, users can access the CarePods as often as needed. However, this membership does not grant access to Forward’s in-person clinics—a hybrid offering may be introduced in the future. Despite this limitation, Aoun believes the CarePod model will attract a significant portion of Forward’s current members, about 35% of whom are uninsured.
Expanding Access
With the $100 million in new funding, Forward plans to roll out its first batch of 25 CarePods in major cities like San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Aoun has already secured deals with prominent mall owners, including Westfield, Simon, and Macerich, and expects the number of pods to grow rapidly.
“We’re gonna put more healthcare on this planet than the world’s ever seen,” Aoun told Forbes. This ambitious goal reflects Aoun’s belief that the future of healthcare lies in widespread access to technology-driven solutions.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite Forward’s bold vision, the concept of AI-driven healthcare is not without its critics. Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at New York University, expresses concern about the lack of human interaction in the CarePod model. He argues that many patients may be reluctant to discuss sensitive issues without a human doctor present to pick up on non-verbal cues and guide them through complex conversations.
Caplan also questions the effectiveness of what he calls “jukebox medicine,” where patients interact with a machine rather than a person. He believes that traditional face-to-face consultations are essential for addressing the full spectrum of a patient’s needs.
The World’s Best Healthcare for One Billion People
Aoun’s ultimate goal is to provide the world’s best healthcare to one billion people, ideally for free. While Forward currently operates on a cash-pay monthly membership basis, Aoun acknowledges that the cost “should be $0” and is committed to working toward lowering the price over time.
Forward’s CarePod represents a significant step toward this vision, offering a glimpse into a future where healthcare is more accessible, efficient, and technology-driven. Whether this model will succeed in addressing the complexities of human health remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Aoun and Forward are challenging the status quo, pushing the boundaries of what healthcare can be in the digital age.