By Marion Davis
Contributing Writer
WOONSOCKET – CVS/pharmacy last week relaunched its Web site, CVS.com, adding new tools that allow consumers to not only manage their prescriptions online, but also set up personalized medication profiles, educate themselves about the drugs they take, find cost-saving generic alternatives and learn more about health and wellness in general.
The site re-launch comes at a time when consumers are increasingly using the Internet to manage their health care, relying on sites such as Google Health – with which CVS recently forged a partnership – and Microsoft HealthVault.
“Now more than ever, patients are taking an active role in managing their health,” said Helena Foulkes, senior vice president for health services at CVS Caremark Corp., the pharmacy’s parent company. “The new CVS.com offers the tools for customers to handle their pharmacy health care in a way that is easy and convenient, such as renewing a prescription without having to have a prescription vial in hand or arranging a pickup location that is closer to home.”
Customers who register and complete a quiz to verify their identity can then access their full CVS/pharmacy prescription history. Along with online refill requests – which were offered before as well – the site allows consumers to sign up for refill reminders, request prescription renewals, find generic alternatives, and transfer prescriptions from other pharmacies.
The new site also allows parents to manage their children’s prescription online. And in the future, the site is to become fully integratable with PHRs on Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault.
“This is the next step in the evolution of pharmacy health care,” said Foulkes. “If you start with a great relationship at the pharmacy counter and make it easy for people to deal with their medications online, they’ll do their part in keeping themselves and their family healthy.”
CVS Caremark Corp. (NYSE: CVS) operates the CVS/pharmacy stores; the CVS.com online pharmacy; Caremark Pharmacy Services; and the MinuteClinic retail-based health care subsidiary. Additional information is available at investor.cvs.com.
