\u201cHere at CVS Health, we are driven by one purpose: to improve customer health.\u201d Brian Tizler, Chief Digital Officer of CVS Health<\/p>\n
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To better serve its purpose, the retail pharmacy giant recently accepted the digitization challenge and underwent a successful transformation from a drugstore chain to a provider of innovative healthcare services. CVS was ubiquitous in the United States with 7,866 retail stores by end of 20141)<\/sup>, but management believed that an extensive physical footprint is no longer sufficient to help people live healthier lives. The retailer decided to create a \u201cconnected\u201d health experience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Consumer Value Stores<\/strong><\/p>\n In 1963, the first CVS store was founded in Massachusetts and sold only health and beauty products. CVS stands for Consumer Value Stores. Today, the firm offers several healthcare services, namely:<\/p>\n In 2013, hoping to help people on their path to better health, CVS introduced a Chief Digital Officer to its organization, and hired Brian Tizler to lead the efforts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Digital Innovation Lab<\/strong><\/p>\n In June 2015, CVS announced the opening of its Digital Innovation Lab in Boston. The primary focus of the Lab includes the development of cutting-edge digital services and personalized capabilities that offer an integrated and accessible personal pharmacy2)<\/sup>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Non-adherence to medical requirements causes about $300 billion in yearly added costs to the US infrastructure and puts tens of thousands of lives at risk3)<\/sup>. The basic reason behind non- adherence consists of forgetfulness. CVS reaches more than 100 million customers annually and 5 million customers walk through its doors daily. CVS has therefore a large opportunity (and responsibility!) to have an impact on people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Consumer Value App?<\/strong><\/p>\n The major digital initiative of CVS was the introduction of a mobile application. The app enables users to refill their prescriptions simply by scanning the barcode and pick up their meds whenever they are ready. The app was well received by the public and was downloaded 11.8 million times3)<\/sup>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CVS was also involved in other digital initiatives. First, CVS introduced CVS Express, allowing customers to order items from the CVS app and pick them up at the curb of a CVS store. The technology was developed at the Digital Innovation Lab in less than 3 months4)<\/sup>. Moreover, CVS introduced Hold My Place in Line, allowing customers to get in line ahead of time and view wait times at their local MinuteClinic from their smartphone4)<\/sup>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Digital Tools<\/strong><\/p>\n In November 2015, CVS announced the introduction of new tools from the Digital Innovation Lab. Based on research conducted at the Lab, pharmacy customers enrolled in digital programs demonstrate better medication adherence and reduced health care costs overall5)<\/sup>. For instance, among CVS\/Caremark members with chronic conditions such as hypertension, 10% more members improved their medication adherence to optimal levels after enrolling online at Caremark.com5)<\/sup>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Lab used big data and analytics to uncover the most effective ways to help people become healthier, and accordingly developed 5 tools:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe have already started to see increased usage and adoption of our digital healthcare tools. In fact, one out of three CVS\/Pharmacy customers use at least one or more digital tools.\u201d Tizler4)<\/sup><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Going Forward\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n CVS considers the Lab as a place to explore and diagnose projects to determine which ones should be fast-tracked to development3)<\/sup>. CVS also partnered with top startup accelerators MassChallenge and Rock Health to drive innovation and is looking to partner with healthcare startups in order not to reinvent the wheel6)<\/sup>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I believe CVS can also move into the gamification and virtual reality space to incentivize people to adhere to the medical schedules. Just imagine if you could increase your personal HP level in a virtual game when you take your meds…<\/p>\n Another important aspect that CVS should focus on is the gathering and analysis of unstructured medical data. The medical data can be extremely valuable for research and monitoring purposes and it would be a shame to lose track of it because we don\u2019t know how to process it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (800 words)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Endpoints<\/strong><\/p>\n 1) Statista \u2013 CVS Health\u2019s Number of Stores from 2005 to 2015. Retrieved on November 15, 2016 from https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/241544\/cvs-caremark–number-of-stores-since-2005\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2) CVS Website \u2013 CVS Health Opens Digital Innovation Lab in Boston. Retrieved on November 15, 2016 from https:\/\/cvshealth.com\/newsroom\/press-releases\/cvs-health-opens-digital-innovation-lab-boston<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3) Health IT Consultants \u2013 CVS Health Executive Talks Integration of Digital Health Tools for Pharmacy. Retrieved on November 15, 2016 from http:\/\/hitconsultant.net\/2016\/02\/08\/cvs-health-goes-digital-to-help-its-customers-get-a-handle-on-their-health\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4) Mobile Strategies 360 \u2013 Q&A with Brian Tizler, Chief Digital Officer of CVS Health. Retrieved on November 15,\u00a0 2016 from https:\/\/www.mobilestrategies360.com\/2016\/05\/09\/exclusive-q-brian-tilzer-cvs-health<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5) CVS Website \u2013 CVS Health Introduces New Digital Pharmacy Tools to Help Make Medication Adherence Easier and More Convenient. Retrieved on November 15, 2016 from https:\/\/cvshealth.com\/newsroom\/press-releases\/cvs-health-introduces-new-digital-pharmacy-tools-help-make-medication<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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