InTouch Health signs letter of intent with Rite Aid, revealing its telehealth ambitions

Telehealth platform InTouch Health has signed a letter of intent with leading drug chain Rite Aid Corporation to cater to increased patient demands for digital health solutions, connecting patients with healthcare providers, anytime, anywhere.

InTouch Health will leverage its Best in KLAS Category Leader for Virtual Care Platforms, InTouch Operating System, which powers telehealth programmes at many of the nation’s top health systems, to develop a new virtual care solution to connect patients to healthcare providers.

At present, InTouch Health supports more than 2,250 care locations around the world.

Ultimately, the service would be available in alternative care sites within communities, including Rite Aid pharmacies, improving access to care. The solution will be developed in health kiosks owned by Rite Aid, enabling the company to enter the retail pharmacy sector.

“In a time where our industry is rapidly evolving, we see an opportunity to bring virtual care to patients in a whole new way that intersects with patients in convenient locations like Rite Aid pharmacies,” said Joseph M. DeVivo, InTouch Health CEO.

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“At InTouch Health, we believe virtual care can be the bridge of consistent patient engagement that not only increases access to care, but also drives improved care coordination and decreases cost for all stakeholders. We applaud Rite Aid’s commitment to exploring telehealth solutions and look forward to bringing our combined vision to life in this new era.”

“Rite Aid has long believed in telehealth as an opportunity to improve the level of care we can offer our patients,” commented Jocelyn Konrad, Rite Aid Executive Vice President of Pharmacy.

“We are excited to be working with InTouch, a well-established telehealth company, to create a solution that will potentially help us provide our patients and communities with access to quality, convenient healthcare.”

The move follows on from a number of mergers and acquisitions. The Amazon effect has led non-traditional companies to look at the potential of technology and how it can bring fresh insights into the industry. Walmart is one of the leading retailers who are continually looking at this space, whilst vertical integration is occurring at a rapid rate.