FULTON, N.Y. — Price Chopper recently announced that it would pilot a live, telemedicine service at its Fulton grocery store, in addition to three other stores across New York state and one in Vermont.
Price Chopper partnered with Computerized Screening Inc. (CSI), a provider of in-store health stations, and Doctor on Demand, a video telemedicine provider, to give its customers access to one-on-one video sessions with board-certified physicians.
The Doctor on Demand physicians can prescribe medications and treat patients with non-emergency medical issues like flu and cold symptoms, sinus infections, and rash issues, according to a news release from Price Chopper.
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The five locations with free-standing health stations were chosen from among 20 Price Chopper stores. Price Chopper chose Fulton because the store is busy and the pharmacy team is known to be engaging with the customers, says Kathy Bryant, VP of pharmacy for the Golub Corporation, the Schenectady–based parent company of Price Chopper.
The goal of the telemedicine service is “to provide health and wellness for our customers,” she says.
The in-store health stations will be equipped with machines for self-testing for blood pressure and body mass index, among other indicators. The equipment is leased from Doctors on Demand, says Bryant.
A pharmacist is available for additional assistance, but does not engage in the session. Patients can also request that the documentation from their visit go to their primary physician.
After each video visit, patients will be provided a written summary of their visit in order to facilitate a follow-up and additional care from their primary physician, the release stated.
The service is available 24/7, and a 15-minute consultation will cost $40 or less. Doctor on Demand has also partnered with many insurance providers, so customers’ insurance plans may cover some or all of their visit costs. Doctor on Demand is offering the first visit to the health station at no charge until April 14.
Telemedicine is one of the fastest growing areas of health care, Price Chopper says. By 2018, the number of patients using telemedicine globally will increase to 7 million, up from fewer than 350,000 in 2013. A recent study found that nearly 75 percent of all doctor, urgent care, and emergency room visits are either unnecessary or could be handled safely and effectively over the phone or video. That’s according to the study by IHS, Inc., the American Medical Association, and the Wellness Council of America.
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