Blueberrymed

Blueberry (operating as Blueberry Pediatrics, under the corporate name sparkMD Inc.) is a pediatric telehealth service that gives families unlimited, appointment-free access to board-certified pediatricians 24 hours a day, including holidays. Care is delivered through the Blueberry app: parents begin by messaging a pediatric care team, complete a guided home exam by sending photos, videos and vitals, and then speak with a pediatrician who can create a treatment plan, send prescriptions to a pharmacy of the family's choice when medically appropriate, and issue school or absence notes.

Each membership includes an at-home diagnostics kit containing a WiFi/smart ear scope (otoscope) for ear, nose and throat exams, a finger pulse oximeter for heart rate and oxygen readings, and a digital oral thermometer with a flexible tip; annual members also receive a forehead thermometer. The company says the kit allows its pediatricians to diagnose roughly twice as many conditions from home, covering colds, coughs, fevers, flu, strep, sinus infections, sore throats, headaches, ear infections, gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, skin conditions including rashes, hives, sunburn, cellulitis and dermatitis, conjunctivitis and urinary tract infections. Rapid flu and strep tests are available to members, and suspected UTIs are confirmed via urine culture labs that can be ordered through Quest Diagnostics at discounted rates. Memberships also bundle a digital prescription savings card and monthly developmental, behavioral, emotional and mental-health screening. The company positions itself as a complement rather than a replacement for a primary care pediatrician, directing families to their PCP for wellness and sports physicals, vaccines, chronic condition and ADHD management, specialist referrals, and issues requiring bloodwork, x-rays or stool samples, and will forward visit records to the child's primary pediatrician with parental permission.

Business model

Direct-to-consumer subscription membership. One monthly or annual fee covers all children who are dependents of the account holder, with no copays, per-visit fees, after-hours fees or messaging limits. Memberships renew month-to-month or annually, can be cancelled online at any time (a re-enrollment fee applies if a lapsed membership is reactivated), and are backed by a satisfaction-guarantee refund. The company also markets channels for health plans, employers and physicians.

Recurring membership fees, advertised from $18 per month and in a $18-29 per month range, billed monthly or annually; gift memberships are also sold.

Traction

The company reports being trusted by over 100,000 parents and states that the average family saves $281 per year in copays and unexpected bills. Its clinical team includes Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lyndsey Garbi and pediatricians Dr. Kristen Borchetta (senior physician lead), Dr. Monica Davern, Dr. Alex Saucedo and Dr. Allison Payne.

Latest developments

The company runs an ongoing podcast and webinar program covering topics such as Medicaid transformation and pediatric care access, children's screen time, pediatric emergency response for parents, pediatric dental care, childhood constipation and nutrition, with guests from Molina Healthcare, Beeson Consulting Group and other child-health organizations.