WOONSOCKET, R.I., Aug. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) today announced that it is working with three
proven telehealth companies – American Well, Doctor On Demand and
Teladoc (NYSE: TDOC) – to explore how direct-to-consumer telehealth
providers, retail pharmacy and retail clinic providers can
collaborate to improve patient care. This represents an expansion
of CVS Health's existing telehealth approach.
"During our initial phase of exploration of telehealth in our
store-based clinics, we learned that we could deliver excellent
quality care and that patients were extremely satisfied with the
care provided," said Andrew Sussman,
M.D., executive vice president/associate chief medical officer, CVS
Health and president, MinuteClinic. MinuteClinic data recently
published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine showed
that overall, 95 percent of patients were highly satisfied with the
quality of care they received, the ease with which telehealth
technology was integrated into the visit, and the timeliness and
convenience of their care.
"As we examine additional ways to utilize telehealth to improve
and expand patient care, we have the opportunity to partner with
telehealth organizations in the care of patients at home," Sussman
added. "In doing so, CVS Health will add value for patients,
clients and health plans by improving access to low-cost quality
care."
CVS Health is piloting several different telehealth
opportunities, including making telehealth physician care
accessible through CVS Health digital properties. CVS Health will
also explore enabling MinuteClinic providers to consult with
telehealth physicians to expand the scope of care offered at
MinuteClinic. In addition, MinuteClinic will continue
to provide telehealth care to patients in CVS retail stores
and will explore serving as a site for in-person exams to
facilitate telehealth medical visits.
"With the increased demand for patient care anticipated in
future years as a result of the expansion of coverage through the
Affordable Care Act, the primary care physician shortage, aging of
the population and epidemic of chronic disease, telehealth gives us
the opportunity to offer high quality care to an expanded group of
patients in a variety of convenient and cost-effective locations,"
Sussman concluded.
This announcement is part of CVS Health's broader commitment to
connected health, exploring new and effective ways that digital
technology can improve the health care experience. "A key pillar of
our strategy is forging the right partnerships within the
industry," said Brian Tilzer, senior
vice president and chief digital officer, CVS Health. "We recognize
that some of the best ideas are already being developed, so we're
committed to partnering with other companies to explore and expand
on these ideas together."
"We are delighted that CVS Health has joined the roster of top
health plans, employers, and hospitals that trust American Well for
their telehealth services," said Ido Schoenberg, CEO of
American Well. "Together we can offer consumers far more convenient
access to affordable, quality care in the community and at
home."
"We started Doctor On Demand to provide immediate access to some
of the best board-certified physicians in the country. We all know
how hard it is to get fast treatment for common but acute medical
issues," said Doctor On Demand Co-Founder and CEO Adam Jackson. "Working with CVS Health gives us
an opportunity to care for the millions of Americans that trust CVS
Health with their health and wellness needs."
"Caring for CVS Health customers is a great privilege and
responsibility," said Jason Gorevic,
chief executive officer, Teladoc. "Consumers are choosing
telehealth because it is a convenient and effective way to receive
care. Teladoc is the pioneer of this innovative model, and we are
excited to partner with CVS Health to increase the ways in which
its customers can access high quality and affordable care."
About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a
pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better
health. Through its 7,800 retail drugstores, 1,000 walk-in medical
clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 70
million plan members, and expanding specialty pharmacy services,
the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage
health in more affordable, effective ways. This unique integrated
model increases access to quality care, delivers better health
outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more
information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health
at www.cvshealth.com.
About American Well
American Well has delivered healthcare into the homes and
workplaces of patients for close to a decade. American Well's
consumer service, Amwell, connects people with board-certified
doctors, dieticians, and psychotherapists for video visits via
smartphone, tablet, kiosk, phone, or desktop. Amwell is the #1 most
downloaded Telehealth app and averages a 4.8 out of 5 Star rating
by consumers. American Well serves the nation's top health systems
and health plans and in aggregate serves over 600 major employers
and more than 25 million covered Americans. For more information,
visit AmericanWell.com. American Well and Amwell are
trademarks of American Well Corporation in the United States and other countries.
About Doctor On Demand
Doctor On Demand provides Video
Visits with Board Certified Physicians, Psychologists, and
Lactation Consultants via smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Patients simply download the Doctor On Demand app or
visitwww.doctorondemand.com, provide a list of their symptoms, and
are instantly connected for a Video Visit. Doctor On Demand's
unique offering for health plans and employers combines a
$0 PEPM business model with the
easiest to use, highest-rated consumer application in the
telemedicine space. Doctor On Demand has more 5 star
App Store reviews than every other
telemedicine app combined. To learn more, please visit
www.doctorondemand.com.
About Teladoc
Teladoc, Inc. (NYSE: TDOC), the nation's
leader in telehealth, delivers on-demand health care 24/7 via
mobile devices, the internet, secure video and phone. More than
12.5 million members connect to Teladoc's network of more than
1,500 board-certified, state-licensed physicians and behavioral
health professionals for a range of non-emergency conditions. With
a median response time of less than 10 minutes, Teladoc physicians
will perform more than 525,000 telehealth visits in 2015. Teladoc
is the first and only telehealth company to receive certification
from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its
physician credentialing process. For more information, visit
teladoc.com.
Media Contacts:
Carolyn Castel
(401) 770-5717
CVS Health
Carolyn.Castel@CVSHealth.com
Brent Burkhardt
(410) 986-1303
TBC (for MinuteClinic)
bburkhardt@tbc.us
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SOURCE CVS Health