On September 18, 2020, Meijer pharmacy decided to minimize the spread of COVID-19 with a text-accessible pharmacy customer experience.
Meijer operates 253 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. The chain was ranked No. 19 on Forbes magazine’s 2015 list of “America’s Largest Private Companies” and 19 in Fortune magazine’s 2008 “The 35 largest U.S. private companies”. Supermarket News ranks Meijer 15th on the list of Top 75 U.S. & Canadian Food Retailers & Wholesalers. Based on 2015 revenue, Meijer is the 26th-largest retailer in the United States.
Since COVID-19 pandemic still going and flu season is approaching, the company offers customers to use its new contactless pharmacy tool to manage prescriptions, schedule vaccinations and fill out required forms on their smartphones before visiting a Meijer pharmacy. Program was started at the beginning of the year, but the full force it starts acting after pandemic spread. This service can help to make your visit in pharmacy safer. The tool provides customers with access a personalized, app-like online experience through a link in a text message sent by Meijer pharmacists to their mobile phone.
Meijer Pharmacy 600,000 New Customers
According to Meijer, since initial rollout which began in May 2020, total count of new users increased by over 600,000. From this app, customers can confirm prescription pick-up times, prepare for and schedule vaccination visits, connect their Meijer mPerks loyalty points to their transaction, and check out on their mobile device.
“With all of the unprecedented changes this year, we know our customers feel there is nothing more important than maintaining their family’s health,” said Meijer VP of Pharmacy Jason Beauch. “We hope this innovative technology provides a seamless experience that makes getting vaccines and filling prescriptions as stress-free as possible.”
Flu Shots In 10 Days
This autumn collision of flu and coronavirus infection is very dangerous, that’s why HHS ( Health and Human Services) allowed pharmacists in all 50 states to give flu shots.
“You’ve got this perfect storm in autumn. Everyone is back from vacation. Some are going back to work. In some parts of the country, schools are starting,” said Lawrence Gostin, a global health professor at Georgetown University. “You have a mass migration, and with it people are going to be bringing both influenza and covid-19. … To me, there is no plausible reason why we wouldn’t have both.”
Meijer posted that all patients, who use the app can schedule a day for their flu shots as far as 10 days in advance. On their scheduled day, they will receive a reminder via text message notifying them that their flu shot is ready. The digital pharmacy system will also automatically notify the state registry for immunizations and the patient’s primary care provider once the shot is administered.
Besides, in the time to come of flu season Meijer has also expanded its texting-based pharmacy services to allow patients to fill out their immunization forms and give their consent online before visiting the pharmacy. Upon receiving the completed digital form from the patient, pharmacists complete the transaction and reply with a text message alerting the patient that their vaccine is ready to be administered.
