Unlocking Telehealth Beyond “Simple Sick” Care: Walmart's Innovative Journey and What’s Next

Lisa Woods, VP of Physical and Emotional Well-Being, and Owen Trip, CEO and co-founder of Included Health, unveiled key findings from a multi-year test of a virtual care initiative at Walmart at a health conference. Woods and Trip addressed widespread misconceptions about virtual care and provided evidence that telemedicine can indeed yield cost savings and significant health improvements. The initiative led to a 20% reduction in total cost of care, a 26% drop in hospital readmissions, and a nearly 40% decrease in inpatient hospital costs. The results were so encouraging that Woods announced that virtual primary care would now be offered to all Walmart associates and their families nationwide. The talk concluded with an inspiring patient story underlining the benefits of virtual care.