U.S. employers launch telemedicine program to tackle health disparities among Black community

Walmart, the nation’s largest employer, is joining with telemedicine firm Grand Rounds and digital health company Doctor on Demand to launch a targeted program to tackle health disparities among African American workers.

“We have nearly 300,000 Black and African American (employees) and about 50% of our workforce is comprised of people of color, so we spend quite a bit of time thinking about how do we impact and how do we create change here,” Lisa Woods, Walmart’s vice president of physical and emotional wellbeing, said in a press release.

Walmart is part of a group of large employers, including Target, Best Buy, Medtronic, and State Farm, that are spearheading a new initiative called the Black Community Innovation Coalition in partnership with Grand Rounds and Doctor on Demand. Combined, the group employs more than 500,000 African American workers.