Digital healthcare company Ro offers prescriptions for hair loss, menopause, and sexual health.
Now it's becoming the first online pharmacy to offer FDA-approved allergy treatments. The segment includes up to 50 million people in the U.S. who suffer from the chronic condition.
"If you look at a condition like allergies, it's perfect for our platform," Dr. Melynda Barnes, vice president of medical affairs, told Cheddar. "We have the capability of doing everything from diagnosis to delivery of treatment."
Ro is the parent company behind digital health clinics Roman (for men) and Rory (for women) as well as a service for dealing with nicotine addiction called Zero.
Its platforms will offer allergy medicine to patients, which furthers the startup's goal of serving as a one-stop-shop for basic health needs.
"Our goal at Ro is to be a patient's first call, and for us, that means moving toward a primary care practice," Barnes said.
Though many allergy treatments are available over the counter, research shows that 80 percent of people choose the incorrect medication on their own. Using telehealth options for quick access to a certified physician, Ro hopes to take out the guesswork for patients.
"I don't think we'll ever replace in-person care," Barnes said. "In fact, at Ro, our goal is to be a complement to our in-person colleagues."
But that hasn't stopped Ro from expanding into other aspects of personal healthcare, including spreading knowledge to patients online.
The company recently launched Health Guide, a medical handbook that is 30 percent written by doctors and 100 reviewed by them. Ro is promoting the service as a competitor to WebMD.
"Right now, we know that physicians feel like they can spend more time with really sick patients if they can take care of healthier patients through an alternative health care model like telemedicine," Barnes said.
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