Walgreens launches Apple Watch application

Walgreens on Monday launched its app for Apple Watch that reminds people to take medications as prescribed through the features Pill Reminder and Refill Reminder.

Medication non-adherence adds an approximate $300 billion a year to medical costs in the United States. Currently, the Walgreens app is one of few that address this issue through encouraging users to adhere to medication regimens and reminding them when their prescription is due for refill.

“Walgreens apps and services are designed to provide customers with ultimate access, choice and convenience – we want to help remove friction and make the customer experience as simple as possible,” Sona Chawla, president of digital and chief marketing officer for Walgreens, said. “Whether that’s launching new wearables technology that promotes adherence and proper health regimens or making it easier, safer, and more private to redeem Balance Rewards points through mobile payments with Apple Pay, we want to help customers manage their lives.”

The Apple Watch app connects with the user’s Pill Reminders inside the Walgreens iPhone app, and Apple’s “actionable alerts” enable the user to mark a medication as taken or skipped. Refill Reminders forecast when medication may be running low and offer a one-touch method to begin a refill. The user will receive a follow-up notification when the medication is ready for pickup.