Rite Aid, OptumHealth Introduce Online Consultations

Rite Aid (Camp Hill, Pa.) and OptumHealth (Golden Valley, Minn.) are bringing NowClinic Online Care services inside select Rite Aid pharmacies in the greater Detroit area. NowClinic offers Rite Aid customers real-time access to medical care, information and resources from doctors and OptumHealth nurses. Rite Aid and OptumHealth are the first to provide a virtual clinic in a retail pharmacy setting.

Through private, face-to-face consultations using the Internet, Rite Aid customers can see and speak directly to doctors who are able to discuss symptoms, provide guidance, diagnose and prescribe certain medications when appropriate. Customers can also interact with OptumHealth nurses, who are able to address a range of health care needs such as basic health care education, information on common acute issues and assistance in identifying appropriate provider options for care. A customer record is automatically captured at the end of each interaction and is available for immediate sharing with a customer’s primary care provider, maintaining continuity of care.

Customers can also access NowClinic Online Care 24/7. Currently, conversations with nurses are complementary and a 10-minute consultation with a doctor is $45.