Following rival drugstore chains that are offering additional health services, Rite Aid has launched a telehealth platform that connects patients to clinicians at its in-store health clinics.
The drugstore chain will use virtual care software from InTouch Health. The virtual health program will be accessible from kiosks in Rite Aid stores. Patients will be able to speak with RediClinic clinicians via a secure, two-way audio and video connection. RediClinic is Rite Aid's walk-in health clinic.
Patients can schedule virtual appointments online. When they arrive at the store and check in, they will be escorted to a private kiosk where their vital signs are taken by a clinical assistant at the RediClinic. The patients will then be matched with a clinician who will review their cases remotely.
The virtual care visits will take on cases for nonemergency illnesses such as flu, strep throat, urinary tract infections and preventive visits, such as those to get vaccines.
"Virtual care is another opportunity for Rite Aid to offer patients the convenience of faster service and value-based healthcare," said Jocelyn Konrad, Rite Aid's executive vice president of pharmacy and retail operations.
The kiosks were launched in two stores in Pennsylvania and will expand to three other locations in the state. Rite Aid has more than 2,400 stores in 19 states.
It is the latest move by a drugstore chain to offer more healthcare services in store. CVS Health and Walgreens are remodeling hundreds of stores into health-based centers, focused on providing services to treat patients with diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. The overall strategy is to make the retail pharmacies go-to treatment centers for patients managing chronic illnesses.