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Telehealth stations earmarked for Giant Eagle stores

Supermarket chain partners with regional health network

Russell Redman

December 18, 2018

2 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

Giant Eagle is working with regional health system University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to roll out UPMC AnywhereCare telemedicine kiosks in several stores.

Plans call for the AnywhereCare stations to initially be deployed at three Giant Eagle supermarkets in Pennsylvania, including at the Waterworks Shopping Plaza in Pittsburgh, the Waterfront shopping center in Homestead and 4010 Monroeville Blvd. in Monroeville.

UPMC said that through the kiosks — to be situated in private consultation rooms next to the Giant Eagle in-store pharmacies — its clinicians can provide treatment of minor illness to anyone in Pennsylvania, regardless of their insurance status.

“Giant Eagle is excited to partner with UPMC, a trusted leader in health care, to provide convenient access to care for our customers and the communities we serve. We believe convenient access to medical care is lacking in certain geographical areas and are hoping that, by piloting these services in our stores, our communities will receive the care they need at their convenience, including nights and weekends,” Adam Zakin, senior director of new business development for Giant Eagle Pharmacy, said in a statement.

UPMC’s AnywhereCare stations use videoconferencing to connect its clinicians with patients (ages 3 and older). Peripheral devices at the kiosks — such as blood pressure cuffs, thermometers and otoscopes — are used to collect key health data. Giant Eagle pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are on hand to help patients with the kiosks and devices.

Related:Giant Eagle closes purchase of Ricker’s

Clinicians can be contacted through the kiosks during regular pharmacy hours at the participating Giant Eagle stores. Patients are seen by a health professional within minutes and can receive care for a range of non-urgent conditions, from sore throats to earaches.

“If successful, we look to expand to additional Giant Eagle locations in the future,” Zakin added.

Pennsylvania residents don’t have to be a UPMC Health Plan member to use the AnywhereCare stations, UPMC noted. Depending on a patient’s health insurance coverage, the cost of an AnywhereCare visit ranges from no charge out of pocket to $49. Prescriptions, if needed, are sent electronically to the patient’s chosen pharmacy and paid for separately. AnywhereCare also can be accessed remotely through through free mobile and desktop apps.

“As the name says, we want UPMC care to be available to our patients anywhere — including the grocery store, where they might already be looking for over-the-counter remedies,” said Natasa Sokolovich, executive director of telehealth for Pittsburgh-based UPMC, whose network includes 40 hospitals, 600 doctor’s offices and outpatient sites, and 4,800 physicians. “With UPMC AnywhereCare already available on smartphones, tablets and personal computers, our partnership with Giant Eagle is one more way to make our high-quality care accessible to patients when and where they want it.”

Related:Giant Eagle becomes OfferUp meeting spot

Giant Eagle, based in Pittsburgh, operates 216 Giant Eagle supermarkets in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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