How OnSched powers COVID-19 tests and vaccinations at Rexall through MedMe?

Introduction

Canadians have been relying on Rexall pharmacies for many of their healthcare needs for over a century. With nearly 500 locations across the country, this company is dedicated to consistently meeting the market’s needs by integrating the newest technology and offering new services as needed.

With the current state of things, COVID-19 is the biggest concern for everyone, so in response to this, Rexall, in partnership with MedMe integrated an online booking system to allow patients to book COVID-19 tests and vaccinations at Rexall pharmacy locations in Canada. By implementing OnSched’s booking API, pharmacies that use MedMe have experienced far less human error, optimized pharmacist productivity in stores, and minimized if not eliminated queues. Continue reading to learn more about the implementation process and how OnSched has optimized in-pharmacy healthcare management with their comprehensive online booking solution.

The Challenge

Prior to implementing OnSched’s appointment-booking API, hundreds of pharmacists across Canada were overwhelmed with daily phone calls and appointment requests from local customers. As companies expanded their range of health services, including tests and vaccinations, coordinating schedules between customers and medical professionals became increasingly complex. For this reason, the original booking process became highly susceptible to human error and miscommunication.

The developers at MedMe quickly realized that online scheduling was the way forward, however, developing their own appointment-booking solution from the ground up would take far too much time and energy considering there’s a solution in the market. For this reason, the company required a trusted booking solution with time-zone sensitivity and the ability to add multiple services, locations, and users through a centralized system. Given the company’s highly recognizable web interface, it was also important to maintain a consistent brand image through a 100% white-labeled booking solution. With numerous booking applications, customizable features, and full support from our team throughout the implementation process, OnSched was the ideal choice for online scheduling for MedMe customers, including Rexall.

Booking flow

The Rexall website serves as a perfect example of OnSched’s top-grade customization capabilities. The company’s online presence is known for its friendly, non-intimidating appearance, and everyone was committed to helping Rexall maintain this accessible brand image throughout their online booking applications. When a customer visits the website, they are presented with the titles of Rexall’s health services along with corresponding symbols and buttons that read, “browse and book.” With this new online booking solution, customers are able to walk through a series of straightforward steps that help them access the right services for their needs without calling the pharmacy or searching for the nearest location.

Pharmacists and other members of staff are therefore able to focus their time and attention on providing excellent health services rather than keeping track of multiple schedules at all times.

Healthcare professionals are also provided with useful information such as the individual’s personal information and contact before the appointment.

This streamlined process makes healthcare accessible even for those who are not particularly familiar with the technology. Once the customer has booked a COVID-19 test or vaccination, they will receive a text or email notification indicating appointment confirmation along with a reminder notification just before their appointment time. This simple booking process has given Rexall pharmacists far more time to prepare prescriptions and provide in-pharmacy services. Additionally, it has given customers the option to view available time slots online as opposed to calling in and hoping for an appointment time that works for them.

Implementation

With a variety of services, users, time zones, and a highly personalized interface, our team at OnSched was prepared to work with the developers at MedMe to achieve the desired customizations. The MedMe team was able to test the product in our sandbox environment and explore our customizable features before the implementation process. Using a white-labeled scheduling API made it easy for the developers at MedMe to create a booking flow that will be consistent with Rexall’s website design. By working with our developers at OnSched and using our reliable API, MedMe saved an incredible amount of time and money as opposed to what they would have spent creating their own, highly complex online booking portal. OnSched’s single API key makes it easy for the developers at MedMe to allow their customers to manage customers and users across hundreds of locations.

Summary

The OnSched implementation provided MedMe, and its partner — Rexall with numerous advantages and drastically reduced their workload due to our range of well-thought-out features. Rexall made excellent use of scheduling functionality, and now are booking thousands of COVID-19 tests and vaccinations in Alberta and Ontario.

If scheduling functionality is a roadmap item for you, don’t hesitate and book a demo with our specialist.

Stay healthy!