Walgreen, MDLive Expand Virtual Telehealth Service to Three States

CAL/AAEM News Service calaaem.news.service1 at gmail.com
Sat Jul 4 11:26:00 PDT 2015



 

June 18, 2015

 

Walgreen, MDLive Expand Virtual Telehealth Service to Three States

 

 

 
<http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2015/6/18/walgreen-mdlive-expand-virtua
l-telehealth-service-to-three-states> iHealthBeat

 

 

Last week, Walgreen and telemedicine company MDLive announced a new virtual
doctor service that will allow patients in five states to use their
computers and tablets to connect with doctors, USA Today reports (Weintraub,
USA Today, 6/17).

 

Background

 

In December 2014, Walgreen and MDLive partnered to launch a mobile
application to provide virtual doctor visits to pharmacy customers in
California and Michigan.  With the app, users can see a board-certified
physician via video chat for common ailments, such as upper respiratory
infections, ear aches, sore throats and rashes. Appointments cost $49.
Typically, MDLive virtual visits last about 15 minutes, and physicians may
write prescriptions, when appropriate. However, the virtual visits are not
intended to replace a yearly visit to a primary care doctor (iHealthBeat,
12/10/14).

 

Telehealth Service Details

 

The new service will expand the mobile platform to pharmacy customers in
Colorado, Illinois and Washington (Walgreen release, 6/10).

 

In addition to the mobile app, pharmacy customers will be able to access the
virtual doctor visit platform on their computers or tablets.

 

MDLive CEO Randy Parker said customers are screened using a basic algorithm,
which takes into account their medical histories and symptoms, to ensure
they are appropriate candidates for virtual visits.

 

According to a release, Walgreen said it plans to expand the service to 20
additional states by the end of the year.

 

Reaction

 

Joseph Kvedar, vice president of Partners HealthCare's Connected Health,
said virtual care can be effective for follow-up care, particularly mental
health visits, by allowing providers to see patients in a natural
environment.

 

Meanwhile, Robert Wergin, president of the American Academy of Family
Physicians, also said he sees potential for virtual care. However, he raised
concerns about the possibility for miscommunication and the lack of
reimbursement, since many insurers do not yet cover for virtual visits (USA
Today, 6/17).

 

 

 

Jeff Wells
Deputy Editor, CAL/AAEM News Service

 

Brian Potts MD, MBA
Managing Editor, CAL/AAEM News Service

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