January 19, 2024- Activity for respiratory illness—which includes COVID-19, flu and RSV—is high or very high in 37 of the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. In fact, the number of U.S. flu cases during the first week of January was 80% higher compared with the same time last year, according to Walgreens Flu Index data.
Getting quick and convenient healthcare is important now more than ever. In October, Walgreens debuted a virtual healthcare platform. Walgreens Virtual Healthcare was launches as an on-demand, patient-centered digital platform that provides fast, affordable access to clinicians for common health needs, with no appointment needed.
Walgreens Virtual Healthcare is currently available to treat adult patients over age 18 in nine states: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. These states encompass nearly half of the U.S. population and nearly half of Walgreens pharmacy customers.
While Walgreens plans to expand the reach of its virtual healthcare platform over time, the company is also testing out additional telehealth solutions in other parts of the county. For example, Walgreens is partnering with CityMD to offer some of its Duane Reade pharmacy patients in New Jersey and New York on-demand virtual urgent care visits.