Price Chopper explores telemedicine service in five stores

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Marking an advancement in public access to healthcare, five of Price Chopper’s 20 freestanding health stations will be testing a new telemedicine program that allows customers to get a live, private consultation via videoconference with a board certified physician who can help diagnose and treat minor illnesses, the company announced Wednesday.

 

“This enhancement provides our customers with immediate access to a qualified physician within the comfort and convenience of our pharmacy and health and wellness offerings," stated Kathy Bryant, VP pharmacy for the Golub Corp. "If this technology meets the needs of the modern customer as national trends have indicated it might, then we’ll extend similar access to our other health stations in the future,” she said. “We’re always looking for 

progressive ways to broaden our spectrum of goods and professional services in making health care more accessible to our customers.”

 

The cost for the service will be $40 or less for a 15 minute consultation. Following each video visit, patients will be provided a summary of the visit as part of an effort to facilitate follow-up and provide continuity of care with their primary physician. As part of an initiative to promote access to affordable health care, Doctor on Demand is extending a first visit free offer through April 14, 2016.

 

“We believe that our customers are ready to test out this new technology, which improves the efficiency and availability of health care," Bryant said. "As a retailer committed to helping people feed and care for themselves and their families, we’re pleased to be able to make it available in our stores.”  

 

The five pilot stores are in Johnstown, N.Y., Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Bennington, Vt., Glenmont, N.Y. and Fulton, N.Y. 

 

Working in partnership with CSI (Computerized Screening, Inc.), which provides the in-store Health Stations for Price Chopper and Market 32, and now Doctor On Demand, the leading video telemedicine provider, customers will now have immediate access to board certified physicians around the clock. 

 

Doctor On Demand physicians are able to diagnose, advise, treat symptoms and prescribe medications for a wide range of common non-emergency medical issues including cold, flu and respiratory symptoms, sinus infections, pink-eye and skin and rash issues.