Rush–Amazon One Medical Partnership Signals New Era of Hybrid Care and Expanding Opportunities for International Nurses

Chicago-based Rush University System for Health is taking a bold step into the future of care delivery and it carries important signals for international nurses exploring U.S. opportunities through platforms like NurseContact.

On Jan. 1, Rush officially launched a collaboration with Amazon’s hybrid primary care company, One Medical, to expand access to both virtual and in‑person specialty care across the Chicago region. Within just the first weeks of the partnership, more than 20 One Medical patients in the Chicago market have already been referred to Rush specialists for in‑person visits, underscoring how quickly this model is gaining traction.

For international nurses aiming to build a career in the United States, this kind of partnership highlights how health systems are reshaping care, staffing, and recruitment and why digital hiring marketplaces like NurseContact are becoming essential.

A New Model of Care: Hybrid, Connected, and Patient-Centered

Rush University System for Health, a three-hospital academic health system, has been steadily transforming how it delivers care. According to Kate Jones, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Rush, the health system sees the One Medical collaboration as a way to expand not replace its current strategy.

“Every patient doesn’t look the same or want to access care the same way,” Jones explained. “So we view this as augmenting our strategy.”

In practice, that means combining:

• Virtual care for convenience and accessibility
• In-person specialty care for complex needs
• Subscription-based services that make 24/7 care more predictable and affordable

This hybrid model isn’t just a tech story it’s also a workforce story. It directly impacts how nurses work, where they’re needed, and the skills that are in highest demand.

Rush Connect: A Virtual Care Hub With Growing Demand for Nursing Talent

Long before teaming up with Amazon One Medical, Rush invested heavily in digital health. Its Rush Connect platform is now considered one of the more robust virtual care offerings in the country, providing access to multiple specialties through telehealth.

Key features include:

• Eight and growing specialties available virtually
• 24/7 telehealth access through a subscription-based service
• A personal care navigator for patients, launched in July in partnership with Fabric
• A monthly subscription model at $19 per month, accessible to patients nationwide

Only a limited number of U.S. health systems currently offer a similar breadth of virtual services, including Milwaukee-based Froedtert Health and Newport Beach-based Hoag. As virtual care grows, so does the need for nurses comfortable with:

• Telehealth triage
• Remote patient monitoring
• Care coordination and navigation
• Technology-enabled documentation and communication

For international nurses looking to work in the U.S., these evolving roles open up new pathways especially in systems like Rush that are blending digital innovation with high-acuity care. NurseContact, as a digital marketplace connecting international nurses to U.S. employers, is uniquely positioned to help nurses target organizations that are at the forefront of this transformation.

Amazon One Medical’s Model: Subscription Care Meets Health System Expertise

Amazon One Medical operates on a membership model of its own, offering subscribers:

• Around-the-clock, on-demand virtual care
• Convenient access to primary care in hybrid (virtual and in-person) formats
• A technology-forward experience that integrates seamlessly with patients’ daily lives

A major differentiator in the Rush–One Medical partnership is staffing. Rush isn’t just receiving referrals it is staffing One Medical clinics with its own providers, a first for One Medical, according to Jones.

“Yes, we’ve got more access, but we also were partnering really closely on the quality of care delivered,” she said.

For the nursing workforce, this kind of integrated model can mean:

• More consistent care standards between virtual and in-person environments
• Expanded roles for nurses in primary care, specialty care, and population health
• Opportunities to work within cross-organizational teams that span hospital systems and tech-enabled clinics

International nurses entering the U.S. job market via platforms like NurseContact may find that employers engaged in such collaborations are especially interested in nurses who:

• Embrace innovation and change
• Are comfortable working in multidisciplinary, tech-enabled teams
• Have experience or training in patient education, navigation, and digital workflows

Revenue Sharing, Employer Benefits, and Why It Matters for Nurses

Rush has not publicly disclosed the financial terms of its arrangement with Amazon One Medical. However, in other markets, health systems often share revenue from the clinics. Beyond finances, the partnership opens access to One Medical’s large membership base about 60% of whom receive their subscription as an employment benefit.

This creates several key dynamics:

• Steady patient volumes flowing from employer-sponsored memberships
• A more predictable pipeline of outpatient and specialty care needs
• Increased pressure on health systems to stay responsive, innovative, and patient-centric

For nurses and especially for international nurses seeking U.S. nurse jobs this translates into:

• Growing demand for nurses in outpatient, ambulatory, and virtual care settings
• Expanded opportunities in metropolitan markets like Chicago
• Stable roles tied to large employer populations and membership-based care models

Digital recruitment platforms such as NurseContact help international nurses align their skills and aspirations with health systems operating in these advanced care environments. By streamlining the hiring process and connecting nurses directly with U.S. employers, NurseContact makes it easier to tap into opportunities in systems like Rush that are actively innovating care delivery.

From Brick-and-Mortar to Borderless Care: What This Means for International Nurses

“This space is consistently challenging all of us to step up our game,” Jones observed. “We’re not a traditional brick-and-mortar industry anymore.”

That statement reflects a broader truth: healthcare in the United States is rapidly evolving beyond hospital walls. Care now spans:

• Physical hospitals and clinics
• Digital platforms and mobile apps
• Home-based and remote monitoring environments

For international nurses, this evolution means:

• Clinical expertise remains essential but digital literacy and flexibility are increasingly critical.
• Employers value nurses who can adapt to new tools, workflows, and patient expectations.
• Those who embrace hybrid care models will be especially competitive in the U.S. job market.

Through NurseContact, nurses can connect with U.S. health systems that are leading this transition. The platform’s streamlined hiring process helps candidates navigate visa pathways, match with suitable employers, and secure roles suited to their experience whether in traditional inpatient care, ambulatory clinics, or virtual-first programs.

Innovation, Collaboration, and the Future of Nursing Careers in the U.S.

The Rush–Amazon One Medical collaboration is more than a headline about technology; it’s a real-time example of how:

• Health systems are rethinking access, convenience, and quality
• Tech-enabled models are reshaping everyday care delivery
• New care environments are creating new roles for nurses

“This keeps us innovative and meeting patients where they’re seeking or choosing to receive care,” Jones said. “We look forward to really continuing to see what the relationship can bring and grow and be innovative together.”

For international nurses, this innovation wave represents opportunity. As U.S. health systems embrace hybrid care, integrated partnerships, and membership-based models, they will continue to rely on a skilled, adaptable nursing workforce including nurses recruited from around the world.

NurseContact exists precisely at this intersection: a digital marketplace that connects international nurses with forward-thinking U.S. employers, while offering a streamlined, transparent hiring process. In a healthcare landscape where virtual care, collaboration, and patient-centered design are becoming the norm, NurseContact helps nurses find not just any job but the right job, in the right system, at the right moment in this transformation.