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Rite Aid, a drugstore chain with over 4,000 stores, is planning on enlarging its online doctors and nurses program, known as NowClinic Online Care. The NowClinic Online care is a consultation services program that allows customers to contact doctors and nurses for advice regarding illnesses and injuries. The program started in 2011 in Detroit, MI, with similar beginner programs in Harrisburg, PA. Rite Aid now plans to add 58 new clinics throughout Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Baltimore, MD, and Boston, MA.

NowClinic Online Care includes both phone and video consultations between the customer and nurse and/or doctor. The consultation services occur in store in individual rooms to insure privacy. Each room is equipped with machines that allow one to measure temperature, weight, and blood pressure. The services can also take place anywhere with internet. At the end of the service, customers can get a printed transcription of the conversation in case they need it if they choose to see their primary care physician or any other doctor afterwards.

The services, however, are not free. For a 10-minute consultation with a doctor, the fee is around $45. All conversations with nurses are free. This program can be helpful for people without insurance since the average fee for a doctor consultation within these areas is $100. Although the program seems to be easier on the wallet, it is not the same as a doctor visit. The NowClinic Online Care doctors cannot prescribe customers any kinds of medications. Furthermore, they cannot physically touch or see injuries and symptoms that may help with a diagnosis since it is through a webcam.

A study done earlier found that most medical errors that occur in hospitals stem from errors during the initial meeting between primary care physicians and patients (Medical Errors Often Stem from Primary Care Physicians). If most errors are made at this point, how can a doctor from a computer screen give good enough advice for ill people? Regardless, this program can be helpful for people in dire need of advice but cannot afford it.

Although Rite Aid is one of the largest drugstores in the northeast area, it is still behind in pharmaceutical sales when compared to other stores like Walgreens. The NowClinic Online Care, a one-of-a-kind program may change Rite Aid's profits.