Rite Aid and InTouch Health Launch In-Store Telemedicine Kiosks with RediClinic Express

Recently, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that Rite Aid, a chain retail pharmacy based in Pennsylvania, USA, has partnered with telehealth company InTouch Health to launch a new in-store telemedicine service. Through its RediClinic retail clinic network, customers will be able to conduct video consultations with clinicians using InTouch Health’s virtual care software via available RediClinic Express medical kiosks.

Rite Aid operates 25 RediClinics in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and has 36 locations within H-E-B grocery stores in Texas. Rite Aid is distinguishing its in-store telehealth services from trained medical assistants, aiming to provide patients with a more transparent healthcare delivery experience.

The kiosk is private. A medical assistant helps record vital signs and conduct a medical intake before connecting the patient with a remote clinician for further care. The physician assists in diagnosing the patient, determining a treatment plan, and, if necessary, sending prescriptions to the relevant Rite Aid pharmacy or referring the patient to other providers.

The company will launch its first quick-service clinic in Pennsylvania, focusing primarily on urgent care needs such as influenza, upper respiratory infections, and UTIs. Patients can schedule medical appointments online, check themselves in using in-store tablets, or speak with trained medical assistants who manage the self-service kiosks.

“Virtual care is another opportunity for Rite Aid to provide patients with convenient, value-based healthcare services,” said Jocelyn Konrad, Vice President of Pharmacy and Retail at Rite Aid, in a statement.

“We have been continuously exploring ways to leverage technology to serve our patients in innovative ways. We are delighted to launch virtual care services through our initial RediClinic Express kiosks and look forward to improving health outcomes for customers in these communities,” said Jocelyn Konrad.

Faced with new entrants such as Amazon and declining industry-wide reimbursement rates, pharmaceutical companies are diversifying their revenue streams by enhancing in-store care delivery services.

Rite Aid has consistently lagged behind competitors such as CVS Health and Walgreens in this regard. Following a series of failed acquisition attempts by companies like Walgreens and Albertsons, Rite Aid’s profits, revenue, and number of store locations have continued to decline. Earlier this year, the company’s board of directors decided to eliminate approximately 400 corporate positions to cut costs and steer the company in a new direction. Among those who lost their jobs was John Standley, the chief executive officer who had served for nine years.

Rite Aid Corporation is one of the leading pharmacy chains in the United States, with approximately 4,700 stores across 31 states and the District of Columbia. It has a strong presence on both the East and West Coasts and employs 91,000 people. Rite Aid is the largest pharmacy chain on the East Coast and the third-largest in the United States. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RAD.

InTouch Health is a leader in acute care telemedicine solutions. InTouch Health is committed to leveraging its integrated expertise in telemedicine, telecommunications, healthcare products and services, and robotics to help health systems rapidly and seamlessly deploy telemedicine programs, support anytime access to high-quality clinical care for any patient, and reduce overall care costs.

(Compiled by: Xu Wenjuan)