Walgreens Latest API Program Allows Mobile App Developers to Leverage Prescription Refill Technology
Making prescription refills easier can help patients get the most benefit from medication and lower overall health care costs
DEERFIELD, Ill., Feb. 4, 2013 – Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) today is making available a new application programming interface (API) that allows third-party mobile app developers to integrate the drugstore chain’s prescription refill technology. Developers who have scanning functionality within their apps can easily integrate the API to enable their users to order a prescription refill by scanning the barcode on a Walgreens prescription bottle.
“People continue to become increasingly engaged with their mobile devices and use the technology to help make their day-to-day lives easier,” said Abhi Dhar, Walgreens e-commerce chief technology officer. “By incorporating the Walgreens Prescription API, mobile app developers are providing users with an easy way to refill prescriptions and help them properly take their medication.”
Eleven percent of hospital admissions and 40 percent of nursing home admissions are attributable to medication non-adherence, which has been estimated to cost the U.S. health care system $290 billion annually.1,2 In addition to tools such as Refill by Scan, Walgreens pharmacists can significantly improve adherence to medications through face-to-face interaction and counseling. One recent study demonstrated a nearly 5 percent increase in adherence rates among patients who received regular counseling from their pharmacist over the course of a year.3
The Walgreens Prescription API marks the first time such technology is available for adoption among mobile app developers who focus on health and wellness, and it is the second API program offered by Walgreens. Last year, Walgreens launched its QuickPrints SDK and API, which provided third-party developers with the ability to integrate in-store photo services for its users. The Walgreens Prescription API already has been adopted by several app developers including Healthspek and PocketPharmacist.
“We are excited about our relationship with Walgreens. Walgreens leadership position in technology and consumer empowerment fits perfectly with Healthspek's message to consumers ‘Own Your Chart!’,” said Randy Farr, president of Healthspek.
"PocketPharmacist is thrilled to offer iOS users both the convenience and ease of refilling their Walgreens prescriptions," said Michael Guren, founder and CEO of Danike, Inc. “We believe this adds to our goal of helping people better understand and manage their medications.”
Detailed information for the program can be found on the Walgreens Developer Portal at developer.walgreens.com. The Healthspek and PocketPharmacist apps can be downloaded through the following links:
• https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocketpharmacist-drug-information/id387365379?mt=8
• https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/healthspek/id576488481?mt=8
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,061 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
1 Osterberg L, Blaschke T. Adherence to medication. N Engl J Med. 2005; 353(5):487-497
2 New England Health Institute. NEHI Research Shows Patient Medication Nonadherence Costs Health Care System $290 Billion Annually. 2009. Available at http://www.nehi.net/news/press_releases/110/nehi_research_shows_patient_medication_nonadherence_costs _health_care_system_290_billion_annually. August 11, 2009. Accessibility verified December 19, 2011.
3 Taitel M, Jiang J, Rudkin K, Ewing S, Duncan I. The impact of pharmacist face-to-face counseling to improve medication adherence among patients initiating statin therapy. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2012;6:323–329
Introducing Photo Editor by Aviary: A New QuickPrints Partner
Walgreens is proud to introduce Photo Editor by Aviary as the newest member of the QuickPrints Partner Family. Photo Editor by Aviary is a powerful photo editing app created to offer a quick and easy way to edit our photos on the go with no fuss. It includes all the tools you need, in a super intuitive interface so you can get right to editing.
"We've made printing mobile photos fun and easy with this Walgreens integration," said Tobias Peggs, Aviary's CEO. "Our users have consistently asked us for printing capability - so we're very happy to now offer it, and excited to see what they create".
Learn more about the Photo Editor app on the Aviary Blog and download it for the iPhone and iPad today.
Introducing Part: A New QuickPrints Partner
Walgreens is proud to introduce Part to the QuickPrints Partner Family. Part is the third unique application from the MEA Mobile team and our 25th (iPhone) and 26th (iPad) overall partner applications.
What if a picture had just one part? Two? Two thousand? Transform your photos through a tap-and-divide interface and create works of art. No two people will create the same image from the same photo. Part™ analyzes your photo creating a single shape and accompanying color. With a tap your shape multiplies. Tap or swipe again. You chose when to stop the division, and what part of the image is most important.
Download the Part app for iPhone and iPad today from the iTunes App Store.
Introducing Printicular: A New QuickPrints Partner
Walgreens is proud to introduce Printicular as a new partner for the QuickPrints Developer Program.
Printicular allows you to send photos directly from your phone or tablet to your local Walgreens. No need to sync your phone with your computer. No need to transfer images from your device to another application. No Login or Passwords required! Printicular enables you to easily choose pictures from your albums to print and pick up at your local Walgreens in about an hour.
Download the Printicular app for Android today in the Google Play store.
11/20 Update: As of November 20, Printicular now features the ability to print your square 4x4 photos from your mobile device, Facebook and Instagram! Available on Android version only.
12/19 Update: Printicular is now available for iPhone & iPad and can be downloaded in the iTunes App Store now. Version 1.1 of the iOS app features the ability to print all of your photos from Instagram to any of the 8,000+ Walgreens across the country.
