The average wait time for patients looking to see a dermatologist in the U.S. is nearly 29 days, and in some areas, can exceed several months. To help meet the growing need for skin care resources and accessible care and treatment, Walgreens today is launching a new skin care answers platform available through Walgreens.com and the Walgreens mobile app.
The platform features informational resources and content, and will also enable visitors to obtain extended skin care, including the DermatologistOnCall teledermatology service available through Iagnosis, which offers online dermatology consultations with U.S.-based, board-certified specialists.
Greg Orr, Walgreens vice president of digital health, said, “More than 2 million people visit our digital channels each day, and this is another way we can help address access challenges by giving our customers more convenient channels and resources to meet their health care needs.”
The skin care platform includes:
- DermatologistOnCall®, the nation’s largest teledermatology-focused telehealth network offered by Iagnosis, for online dermatology scheduling and consultation
- Information about common skin conditions such as acne and eczema from content partner and the leading source of health care information, WebMD
- Basic skin and product recommendations through Walgreens Pharmacy Chat, which offers live online chat conversations 24/7 with members of Walgreens pharmacy staff
“This is another example of combining innovation and convenience to deliver tools and services that help deliver quality and affordable care to our customers anywhere, anytime,” said Harry Leider, M.D., Walgreens chief medical officer. “The teledermatology offering and collaboration is a natural extension of some of the services we already provide and can serve as a resource for screening and potential early diagnosis of a variety of skin conditions.”
Iagnosis’ DermatologistOnCall network of dermatology specialists can provide diagnoses and personalized treatment plans for more than 3,000 medical conditions affecting the skin, hair and nails, typically within 24 hours of the patient submitting their online visit. Patients who have created an online profile may upload photos of their skin condition via the private and secure platform, receive relevant answers to medical questions and select to receive care from a provider licensed in their state. The cost per online consultation is $59.
“We are very excited to announce this relationship with Walgreens, which has shown innovative leadership in embracing telehealth applications that deliver a high clinical quality standard to its customers,” said Dave Zynn, chief executive officer of Iagnosis. “Consistently, 98 percent of DermatologistOnCall patients say they’d recommend the service to a family member or friend, and we look forward to serving Walgreens customers as they look for solutions that support their health and well-being.”
For more information, visit: http://walgreens.com/skincareanswers.