Frank Westermann was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes more than 20 years ago. It’s a condition that relies heavily on tracking numbers — carbs, insulin dosage, blood sugar levels, and more. His experience with diabetes motivated him to co-found mySugr in 2012, which quickly became the most popular app for people to keep track of their diabetes. It now serves more than three million people with diabetes. His work in the digital health space expanded to 9am.health, a virtual diabetes clinic he recently co-founded.
Why get LegitScript-certified? Frank Westermann, co-founder and co-CEO of 9am.health, explains why certification is important for new telehealth providers as a way to build trust and grow their customer base.
We are a new service, so LegitScript Certification helped build trust with our customers and got us approved as advertisers on Google, Meta (Facebook), Taboola, and others. Without it, we would not be able to advertise on those platforms.
Frank Westermann, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, 9am.health
In the following Q&A, Frank talks about his decision to apply for LegitScript Certification for 9am.health, and how it is an important part of his strategy as a new telehealth business.
Tell us a bit about 9am.health and its mission.
9am.health is a virtual diabetes clinic providing people who have pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes with affordable medications and personalized, compassionate care. Our service is available directly to consumers through a low-cost monthly subscription; it connects people with a care team of licensed providers, pharmacists, and diabetes education and care specialists. 9am.health is drawing its inspiration from the notion that each new day is a time to start again and do better than you might have done the day before.
What prompted you to get 9am.health certified through LegitScript?
We are a new service, so LegitScript Certification helped build trust with our customers and got us approved as advertisers on Google, Meta (Facebook), Taboola, and others. Without it, we would not be able to advertise on those platforms. Since 9am.health is a digital service, we mainly focus on digital advertising platforms like these.
How have recent events changed telemedicine?
The pandemic accelerated telehealth in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. The consumerization of healthcare has added more players to the market, and patients clearly show appreciation for them. These developments allowed us to build 9am.health.
Do you think there is still a stigma for some about ordering medication online?
Not as long as it is clear where the medication is coming from. Accredited programs like LegitScript Certification, in combination with user testimonials, help to build trust with your audience.
How was the certification process for you?
The process was reasonably complex because we had to coordinate between many partners involved, but at the same time, it was adequate and what we expected.
How does LegitScript Certification help you achieve your business goals?
The LegitScript certification is essential to our business as it builds trust and allows us to advertise on major digital platforms like Google and Meta.
Telemedicine is gaining traction more than ever before. Where do you see it going in the next few years?
Virtual care is here to stay and has become a standard feature of care delivery. While the pandemic has accelerated virtual care, building its next generation will still take time. For us, it is an opportunity to increase access to diabetes care and make it more convenient than traditional healthcare in our broken system. Compassionate healthcare specialists will always be needed to deliver adequate telehealth, but without all the hoops that a patient typically has to go through.
Do you have advice for other telemedicine or telehealth providers considering LegitScript Certification?
It depends on their business and their goals, but it certainly made sense for us to get LegitScript-certified to build trust and grow our business.
Are you an online pharmacy or telemedicine provider? Get certified!
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