DEERFIELD, Ill., November 10, 2015 - Walgreens, in collaboration with MDLIVE, today announced an expansion of the Walgreens mobile app, offering MDLive’s telehealth services to users in 20 additional states, now totaling 25, as well as the launch of an updated telehealth experience within the app, providing better functionality and integration.
“Walgreens provides convenient and connected services for our customers, and we are thrilled to be advancing our digital experience to provide patients with more choices when it comes to accessing care,” said Adam Pellegrini, Walgreens divisional vice president of digital health. “We have seen that telehealth solutions play an important role in helping to improve patient outcomes, and we will continue to work to evolve our offerings to ensure our patients can choose what’s most convenient for them whether that’s live doctor consultations, digitally chatting with a pharmacist or visiting a Healthcare Clinic.”
As part of today’s expansion, patients in the following states will now have access to MDLIVE telehealth services through the Walgreens mobile app: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The platform was launched in December 2014 through the Walgreens mobile app in California and Michigan. In June, the company announced expansion to Colorado, Illinois and Washington. The mobile app provides 24/7 access to MDLIVE’s network of U.S. board-certified doctors.
With the improved seamless experience it is no longer necessary to install and launch the MDLIVE app separately to continue the session.
Additionally, the company announced the launch of the Walgreens Connect app, which allows Walgreens Balance Rewards members who own a Well at Walgreens connected premium brand blood glucose meter or blood pressure wrist monitor to earn points for taking daily measurements. The Walgreens Connect app guides the user to select the device to pair, connect to the device, sync data and earn Balance Rewards points in three easy steps. The data is seamlessly captured and transmitted to the cloud via the 2net™ Platform and 2net Mobile solutions from Qualcomm Life, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated. Walgreens rewards 20 points per day for taking a blood pressure measurement and 20 points per day for blood glucose measurements. The app is now available in iTunes and Google Play stores.
The Walgreens Balance Rewards program now has over 500,000 active connected devices, many of which are connected through the Qualcomm Life’s 2net solution. The open ecosystem model provides many ways for members to connect their preferred device or app and currently more than 90 percent of the active members in the program are utilizing a connected device as opposed to manual entry.
Pellegrini will be discussing these updated offerings and Walgreens broader telehealth strategy at the mHealth Summit during his presentation titled “Walgreens Connected You: Reimagining Connected Health” on Nov. 10. He will also participate in the Venture+ Forum Finals the same day and the Life Science Roundtable on Nov. 11.
The mHealth Summit is the premier conference and expo for exploring what is new in mobile, telehealth and connected health—from the impact on healthcare delivery, clinical care and patient and consumer engagement to new technologies, research, investment activities, policy and shifts in the business environment. The Summit, along with the newPopulation Health and CyberSecurity Summits, comprise the new HIMSS Connected Health Conference, an all-inclusive event highlighting how technology is enabling the transformation of healthcare delivery. Join the conversation at @mhealthsummit and #Connect2Health.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), the nation's largest drugstore chain, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,173 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.