Rite Aid Increases Online Service Locations

Rite Aid Increases Online Service Locations

The online doctor service that Rite Aid offers for its clients was expanded recently. It offers a cheaper option to the typical primary care appointment.

The NowCLinic Online Care program of the third biggest drugstore operator in the US will be accessible in 58 locations in the cities of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore. The service links patients to doctors for phone or video consultations for a number of ailments.

Although the online service of Rite Aid is not covered by insurance companies, it is cheaper compared to other kinds of care. Prescriptions can be given by doctors or patients can be referred to another place for additional care. Free phone or video chats with nurses are also available for clients.

Privacy is ensured since a secure platform in used on the interaction between the patient and the doctor. The service is made through the rooms that are used for immunization in the drugstores. The consultation can be facilitated when the patients measure their own blood pressure, temperature and weight. The doctor service of Rite Aid can be accessed by patients through laptops or desktops.

The concept began in 2011 and the company has tested the services in pharmacies in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Around sixteen in-store clinics are operated by the company across the country.

The online service was started to enhance the productivity of its outlets. Two of the competitors of the company, Walgreen Co and CVS Caremark Corp, fill out around 1,600 to 1,900 prescriptions each week. In comparison, Rite Aid outlets only fill around 1,150 prescriptions every week.

Although the two rivals do not offer online consultations they provide physician assistants and nurse practitioners in their clinics. The company does not offer these services, but they have pharmacists who can help clients in the store.

The online service offered by Rite Aid may not offer immediate benefits for the company, but it may undergo some positive changes in the future.

Posted by George Daniels on Sunday March 03 2013, 2:45 AM EST. Ref: SF Gate. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0