DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has joined forces with WebMD Health Corp. to improve consumers’ health and wellness by helping and incenting them to make more salubrious choices at home, at work and on the go.

In the coming months, the companies will work together to provide WebMD’s virtual wellness coaching programs directly to Walgreens customers. Walgreens will also incorporate WebMD content on a variety of health topics, cobranded by the two companies, into its digital experience and stores.

Additionally, visitors to the WebMD website will be able to use Walgreens’ prescription refill and clinic appointment scheduling options from within the site on their desktop or mobile device.

“We’re excited to work with WebMD to provide our customers with new health resources,” said Alex Gourlay, president of customer experience and daily living at Walgreens. “Customers of both companies will benefit from WebMD’s digital engagement tools combined with assistance from Walgreens community pharmacists and nurse practitioners to help them adopt healthy lifestyles. As an added benefit, these consumers also can take advantage of the incentives included in Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices program.”

By making health information and services available to consumers anywhere, anytime, the partnership will help them make more informed choices and live healthier lives, according to WebMD chief executive officer David Schlanger. “WebMD and Walgreens have a shared mission to improve health and wellness by empowering decision making and motivating positive action,” he stated. “Working together, we will accelerate both companies’ efforts to realize this critical goal.”

Walgreens will incorporate into its digital experience and stores selected WebMD content in various topic areas, including allergy, healthy eating, skin care, fitness, healthy aging, emotional health, heart health, cold and flu, sleep, and oral health. In addition, WebMD will make available across its desktop and mobile offerings Walgreens’ online prescription refill and transfer services and Healthcare Clinic appointment scheduling.

Meanwhile, Walgreens will offer customers access to WebMD’s virtual wellness coaching programs to help maintain and improve health through positive lifestyle choices and healthy behavior change. Participants will be able to enroll in programs to help with smoking cessation, weight management, nutrition, exercise, stress management and emotional health, as well as in programs for managing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

The companies plan to incorporate Walgreens’ Balance Rewards for healthy choices program into the WebMD virtual wellness coaching programs offered through the drug chain to incent members to participate in health-related activities. Balance Rewards helps people adopt healthy behaviors by earning loyalty program points through participation in health-related programs and tracking progress toward a goal. The companies also plan to integrate the Balance Rewards for healthy choices program into WebMD’s Healthy Target mobile health improvement program.