Walgreens and Community expand relationship to further coordinate patient care and improve access
DEERFIELD, Ill. & INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., 2017-Jan-10 — /EPR Retail News/ — Walgreens and Community Health Network have expanded their existing relationship, announcing today (Jan. 6, 2017) that Community Health Network will exclusively operate and provide clinical services at 12 retail health clinics located within Walgreens stores across central Indiana.
Soon the Community logo will appear at Walgreens stores in central Indiana as the newly named Community Clinic at Walgreens streamlines the continuum of care for patients by combining Community’s commitment of ‘exceptional care, simply delivered’ with the convenience and accessibility of Walgreens.
“Walgreens shares our commitment of finding innovative ways to make healthcare available to patients where and when they need it,” said Community Health Network chief strategy and innovation officer Kyle Fisher. “This is the next step in a collaboration that is focused on providing the best care simply, conveniently and affordably by expanding our network of qualified caregivers within the communities we serve.”
The Community Clinic at Walgreens will be staffed by Community Health Network’s highly qualified and caring nurse practitioners who will treat minor injuries and illnesses as well as help manage chronic conditions, providing patients a variety of health care services with the convenience of walk-in appointments or same-day scheduling.
Patients will have easier access to Community facilities for follow up care, or to establish a primary care relationship. Seamless access to patient records and
scheduling ‘on the go’ will be available through MyChart, Community’s secure app and online connection.
In addition, Walgreens and Community Health Network will form a collaborative council to share best practices, experiences, and innovations to improve patient care, quality and satisfaction while reducing health care costs through new models and by leveraging digital platforms.
Today’s announcement builds upon a recently announced pharmacy relationship and a successful three-year clinical collaboration between Walgreens and Community Health Network focused on enhanced communications to better coordinate care. Walgreens Healthcare Clinics in the Indianapolis area have referred patients to Community Health Network physicians to handle serious conditions and chronic diseases, outside of the clinics’ scope of practice.
Last month, Community Health Network’s Wellspring retail pharmacy operations opened under Walgreens ownership at three Community Hospital locations, giving patients and Community Health Network employees easier access to affordable healthcare and pharmacy services.
“Community Health Network has an outstanding reputation as a health services provider in Indiana,” said Pat Carroll, MD, chief medical officer for Walgreens Healthcare Clinics. “Expanding our existing relationship with Community highlights Walgreens ongoing commitment to collaborating with local health systems to help ensure a true continuum of care. We look forward to working even more with Community, enhancing care coordination across both retail clinic and pharmacy services.”
Initially, 12 retail clinics are planned to transition to Community Health Network in June, with opportunities for future expansion. The clinics will become an extension of Community Health Network. Walgreens will continue to manage these Healthcare Clinic locations until that time.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 10 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,175 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens omnichannel business includes Walgreens.com and VisionDirect.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
About Community Health Network
Ranked among the nation’s most integrated healthcare systems, Community Health Network is Central Indiana’s leader in providing convenient access to exceptional healthcare services, where and when patients need them—in hospitals, health pavilions and doctor’s offices, as well as workplaces, schools and homes. As a non-profit health system with over 200 sites of care and affiliates throughout Central Indiana, Community’s full continuum of care integrates hundreds of physicians, specialty and aacute care hospitals, surgery centers, home care services, MedChecks, behavioral health and employer health services. To learn more, visit eCommunity.com or call 800-777-7775.
Contacts:
Walgreens
Scott Goldberg
847-315-7649
scott.goldberg@walgreens.com
http://news.walgreens.com
@WalgreensNews
facebook.com/Walgreens
Community Health Network
Kris Kirschner
317-621-7073
kkirschner@ecommunity.com
Source: Walgreens