DEERFIELD, Ill., July 22, 2019 - Walgreens today announced that it has expanded the Walgreens Find Care™ platform to now include chronic care management, featuring connected devices and digital therapeutic solutions for patients with diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, one year since launch, several new health care offerings from existing and new partners have been added to the platform.
To further meet the needs of the 30 million adults living with type I or type II diabetes1, the 25 million U.S. adults and children living with asthma2 and the more than 15 million adults with COPD3, Walgreens Find Care has added leading diabetes, asthma and COPD device manufacturers, Dexcom and Propeller Health, to its digital platform. Through these new collaborations, Walgreens Find Care users with diabetes, asthma or COPD can learn how to simplify and centralize critical health information with state-of-the-art health monitoring devices.
“Our research shows that Walgreens customers are looking for new, convenient and affordable ways to understand and manage their health care needs,” said Giovanni Monti, vice president and director of health care innovation, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. “Walgreens Find Care delivers on our commitment to help customers improve their health by bringing together curated, proven, omnichannel health care solutions. We believe that by integrating connected care devices, digital therapeutics and the pharmacy experience, we’ll help individuals better manage their chronic conditions while also lowering the overall cost of care.”
The User Experience
On the Walgreens Find Care platform, diabetes patients can learn how to better manage their condition with the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System. The Dexcom CGM uses a slim sensor to continuously measure glucose levels just beneath the skin and send data wirelessly to a display device though a transmitter, giving patients real-time glucose data without the need to prick their finger. The water-resistant sensor can be worn up to 10 days, and patients will be able to share data with their family or care team. Once the sensor is active, patients can also receive customizable alerts & alarms warning of pending highs/lows. Dexcom CGM is proven to lower A1C and reduce hypoglycemic events4,5.
Asthma and COPD patients can also find solutions to help them better manage their chronic condition on the platform. Patients can learn about and enroll in Propeller, which works by attaching a sensor to their existing inhaler. The sensor tracks medication usage and location data and delivers insights to the patient via the Propeller mobile app. These insights include medication adherence reminders, air quality forecasts, symptom insights and tips to help them self-manage their disease. With the patient’s consent, Propeller can communicate to the patient’s physician to show how the patient is doing between appointments and share insights on their disease management. In addition, within the Propeller mobile app, patients can refill their inhaler prescription at a Walgreens pharmacy through the “My Pharmacy” feature.
Continued Momentum
Introduced in July 2018, the Walgreens Find Care platform helps connect the company’s millions of mobile and online customers and patients to health care offerings and a growing selection of recognized providers. Since launching, Vanderbilt Health, Aspen Dental, Partners in Primary Care, Norton Healthcare, Community Health Network and Houston Methodist have joined the portfolio of national and local organizations providing health services such as primary care, telehealth and dental.
Current Walgreens Find Care Partners
- Advent Health
- Advocate Health Care
- Aspen Dental (new partner)
- Baptist Health
- Community Health Network (new partner)
- DermatologistOnCall
- Dexcom (new partner)
- Heal
- Houston Methodist (new partner)
- Kadlec
- LabCorp
- MDLIVE
- MedExpress Urgent Care
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Irving Medical Center; NewYork-Presbyterian Second Opinion; New York-Presbyterian Virtual Care
- Norton Healthcare (new partner)
- Partners in Primary Care, a wholly owned subsidiary of Humana (new partner)
- Piedmont Healthcare
- Propeller Health (new partner)
- Providence St. Joseph Health, including Providence Express Care, Swedish Express Care, Swedish Virtual Care and Providence Virtual Care
- SSM Health
- Swedish at Home
- UHealth – The University of Miami Health System
- Vanderbilt Health (new partner)
- Walgreens Healthcare Clinics
- Walgreens Hearing
- Walgreens Optical
Health care offerings are shown based upon a user’s location, ensuring convenient and relevant results. Walgreens Find Care users have the ability to schedule visits or complete virtual consultations in some markets, potentially connecting to a health care provider within minutes. All Walgreens Find Care offerings are accessible through the Health Services section of the Walgreens mobile app and online at www.walgreens.com/findcare.
Walgreens Find Care, which was recognized by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences as an honoree for the 2019 Webby Awards, continues to add new partners and health offerings to meet the evolving needs of Walgreens patients and customers.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. As of August 31, 2018, Walgreens operates 9,560 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
1 Diabetes Quick Facts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Accessible: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/quick-facts.html Page last reviewed: 05/11/2018, last accessed: 5/20/19
2 Asthma Quick Facts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Accessible: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/asthma.htm Page last reviewed: 01/19/2017, last accessed: 5/20/19
3 Wheaton AG et al. Employment and activity limitations among adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — United States 2013. CDC Morb Mortal Wkly Rep (MMWR) March 27, 2015;64(11):289-295. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6411a1.htm
4 Welsh, J.B. et al (2019). "Accuracy, Utilization, and Effectiveness Comparisons of Different Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems." Diabetes Technol Ther 21(3)
5Beck RW, Riddlesworth T, Ruedy K, et al. Effect of Continuous Glucose Monitoring on Glycemic Control in adults With Type 1 Diabetes Using Insulin Injections: The DIAMOND Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017; 317(4); 371-378
Media Contact
Allison Mack, Walgreens
847-226-9750
allison.mack@walgreens.com