Through the company's line of RediClinic
retail clinics, customers will be able to use InTouch Health's virtual care
software to connect with clinicians for video visits through available
RediClinic Express kiosks.
By KEVIN TRUONG / Jul 29, 2019 at 5:33
PM
Camp
Hill, Pennsylvania-based retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid has launched a new in-store
telemedicine service in partnership with InTouch Health.
Through
the company’s line of RediClinic retail clinics, customers will be able
to use InTouch Health’s virtual care software to connect with clinicians for
video visits through available RediClinic Express kiosks.
Rite
Aid operates 25 RediClinics inside select pharmacies in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, along with 36 locations in H-E-B grocery stores in Texas.
RiteAid
is attempting to differentiate its in-store telehealth services by integrating
medical devices and point-of-care testing from trained medical assistants
that is meant to give patients a more transparent care delivery experience.
The
kiosks are private and the medical assistant helps to take vital signs and
conduct a medical survey before being linked with a remote clinician for
further care. The doctor will then help diagnose the patient, determine a
treatment plan and, if necessary, send a prescription to the associated Rite
Aid pharmacy or refer out to another provider.
In
order to book a virtual visit, patients can schedule appointments online,
check-in for themselves using an in-store tablet or speak with the trained
medical assistant charged with managing the kiosk.
The
company will launch the first Express kiosks in Pennsylvania which will be
focused on urgent care needs like the flu, upper respiratory infections and
UTIs, along with preventive and wellness visits.
“Virtual
care is another opportunity for Rite Aid to offer patients the convenience of
faster service and value-based healthcare,” Rite Aid EVP of Pharmacy and Retail
Operations Jocelyn Konrad said in a statement.
“We are
continually looking for ways to serve our patients differently by utilizing
technology and are excited to launch virtual care via our initial
RediClinic Express kiosks and look forward to improving healthcare
outcomes of our customers in those communities.”
Pharmacy
companies continue to boost up their in-store care delivery services as a way
to diversify their revenue streams in the face of new entrants to the industry
like Amazon and declining reimbursement rates.
Rite-Aid
has lagged in this respect compared to competitors like CVS Health and Walgreens. The company has continued to see
continuing declines in profits, revenue and locations in the wake of a number
of failed acquisition attempts from the likes of Walgreens and Albertsons.
Earlier
this year, the company’s board decided to cut around
400 corporate positions in an attempt to save costs and steer the company in a
new directions. Among those that lost their jobs was CEO John Standley, who led
the company for a period of nine years.
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