Walgreens expands consumer telehealth services for COVID-19

Walgreens is adding several new features to its Walgreens Find Care digital health offering.

Walgreens Find Care now includes a COVID-19 risk assessment, powered by Microsoft healthcare bot which runs on Microsoft Azure, to help users assess their risk of COVID-19 based on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Additionally, customers can learn more about COVID-19 clinical trials by using the “Find My Clinical Trial” program.

The drugstore giant has also expanded features to the service and added national and regional partners. Customers can now connect with more than 30 providers who treat over 100 conditions through Walgreens Find Care. According to Walgreens, use of its consumer mobile app is up 22% compared to the same time in 2019 and 12% year-to-date as more patients turn to digital health services during the pandemic. 

“The recent expansion of Walgreens Find Care is another example of how we are enabling patients to get care when and how they need it,” said Giovanni Monti, senior VP of health care services, Walgreens Boots Alliance. “We continue to grow our partnerships with some of the most trusted local and national providers to offer telehealth solutions that can help patients better meet their acute and chronic care needs, especially during this unprecedented time of social distancing.”

Launched in July 2018, Walgreens Find Care is designed to helps customers navigate to health systems and telehealth providers where they can connect with a doctor or nurse practitioner to receive care for health and wellness needs like illness and injury, cough and cold, mental health services and chronic condition management. In addition, using the Walgreens app, patients can fill their prescriptions at Walgreens and choose their delivery option which includes in-store pick up, drive-thru, or delivery to their home. Walgreens is waiving delivery fees for all eligible prescriptions on next-day delivery at this time. Patients can also connect with a Walgreens pharmacist 24/7 using the pharmacy chat service available online or through the Walgreens app.

As of Aug. 31, 2019, Walgreens operates 9,277 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.