Qualcomm Life works with Walgreens on connecting retail apps to medical devices

SAN DIEGO — Qualcomm on Monday announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Life is collaborating with Walgreens to power device connectivity with Walgreens mobile and web applications and its Balance Rewards for healthy choices program with medical device connectivity and care coordination capabilities. 

 

“Whether transitioning from a hospital to the home or managing a chronic condition such as heart disease or diabetes, Walgreens connectivity solution powered by Qualcomm Life will allow us to help our customers achieve improved health through regular biometric communication with their providers,” said Adam Pellegrini, Walgreens divisional VP of digital health. “Additionally, Qualcomm Life’s platforms help us to reward participating customers for their choice to become more informed and engaged in their health care.”

 

“As the nation’s largest retail pharmacy with over 8,200 stores nationwide and with 82 million Balance Rewards members, Walgreens penetration and reach exponentially expands the impact our collaboration can have on patient management, and underscores our vision for a world with access to care anytime and anywhere. This collaboration is a powerful demonstration of how our 2net Platform can amplify proven tools and solutions to enhance a patient’s health and experience,” commented Rick Valencia, SVP and general manager, Qualcomm Life.

 

Within the apps, Qualcomm Life’s 2net Platform will also enable remote patient monitoring, transitional care support and chronic care management through a secure and seamless transmission of biometric data from patients’ connected medical devices.

 

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices members earn points for participating in various health-related programs and tracking progress toward a goal. With medical device connectivity powered by Qualcomm Life, Balance Rewards for healthy choices members can sync select mHealth devices directly to their Balance Rewards account, earning points and enabling pharmacists to electronically access biometrics and health status information. Compatible Walgreens devices include a wrist-worn blood pressure cuff, a traditional blood pressure cuff and a blood glucose meter. 

 

The Walgreens applications and Qualcomm-enabled branded devices will be available to consumers in the first half of 2015.