Chewy Announces Telehealth Service ‘Connect With a Vet’
Chewy Inc. announced a new telehealth service today, called “ Connect With a Vet,” (https://www.chewy.com/app/content/connect-with-a-vet) that allows pet parents and veterinarians to leverage the company’s proprietary tele-triage platform to preserve continuous veterinarian care and support amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
The service allows pet parents to connect directly with a licensed veterinarian to get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions, to receive advice, discuss concerns they might have regarding the health and wellness of their pet, and even get referrals to their local vets or emergency clinics. The vets are not diagnosing medical conditions, providing treatment or prescribing medications. During the pilot phase of the “Connect With a Vet” program, more than 80 percent of users rated the service 10/10.
“We have focused our efforts into developing an easy to use and convenient tele-triage product that we anticipate will have a positive impact given the current environment and also extend beyond that,” said Sumit Singh, CEO of Chewy. “We are always looking to enhance our customers’ experience. Visiting a local vet continues to be a challenge for many pet parents during this time. Similarly, the vet community has also been impacted via clinic shutdowns or reduced clinic hours. So, we thought, why not come up with a solution that can help both communities, our customers and veterinarians, in this time of greatest need.”
The “Connect With a Vet” tele-triage service was initially launched in Florida and Massachusetts in May, and Chewy has expanded it to more than 35 states with plans of offering it nationwide. The service is currently available exclusively and free of charge to customers who are subscribed to the company’s Autoship program, which is responsible for nearly 70 percent of its net sales.
Chewy has partnered with vets impacted by the pandemic or those seeking flexibility in scheduling. Feedback from the vets participating in the program has also been positive as reflected in this testimonial from Christina Fernandez, DVM MRCVS DACVECC. “I’m extremely proud to be part of the ‘Chewy Connect With a Vet’ team. Helping people help their pets is the best part of being a veterinarian. Being able to do that in a way that is convenient for pet parents, while also supporting our veterinary colleagues, has been a truly rewarding experience,” she said.
This first-of-its-kind service is providing quick and easy access to free veterinary counsel from the comfort of a customer’s home. “These are early days and there is a lot to learn. We’re glad we are innovating fast and at a time when it matters most,” said Singh.