Pharmacy & Healthcare

6 ways your pharmacist can support your health and wellness

Your local Walgreens pharmacist is your partner in healthcare. Learn more about the essential services they provide that go well beyond filling prescriptions.

By Elyse Russo
Pharmacist and patient
Pharmacist and patient

When it comes to your health, your pharmacist is one of the most accessible healthcare professionals you can rely on.  

“Community pharmacists see high-risk complex patients over 30 times a year on average," says Anita Patel, vice president of pharmacy services at Walgreens. "It's often a bit more inaccessible to see your primary care physician regularly, which is where your local pharmacist comes in, who are equipped to help you throughout your healthcare journey beyond just providing you with your medication."

Patel explained that every visit to a Walgreens pharmacy is an opportunity for pharmacists to educate and manage patients’ conditions to support better health outcomes. From answering everyday health questions to supporting long-term treatment plans, Walgreens pharmacists offer services designed to make your healthcare experience simpler, faster and more effective. Here are six ways they can help: 

1. Medication therapy management

Managing multiple medications can be complicated. Walgreens pharmacists provide medication therapy management, ensuring your prescriptions work well together and are taken properly. They assist with adherence, helping you stay on schedule with your medicines, and reconciliation, reviewing all your medications to prevent issues. This personalized attention helps reduce risks and supports better health outcomes. 

2. Chronic disease management

For chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, Walgreens pharmacists provide essential support. They help you stay on top of your condition by recommending monitoring tools and offering personalized care plans. Walgreens has helped patients manage conditions like hypertension.

Patients with complex conditions can receive specialized care from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy in select locations. About 270 Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy community sites nationwide support patients managing complex, life-threatening or rare conditions. They are staffed with specially trained pharmacists and nurses who can answer questions, explain side effects, review medications and collaborate with providers and insurance companies to ease stressors of billing, medication management and delivery.  

3. Quick and easy vaccinations

From flu shots to COVID-19 vaccines, and other vaccines like shingles or pneumococcal pneumonia, Walgreens pharmacists make it easy to stay protected. Walgreens pharmacists can recommend which vaccines someone might need and may administer multiple vaccines during the same visit to save patients’ time.

Many Walgreens locations can accommodate walk-in vaccination appointments or make an appointment online with our vaccine scheduler

4. Flu and COVID-19 testing

If you want to know if you have the flu or COVID-19, Walgreens has convenient testing options available. For example, our easy “2 results in 1” rapid test for COVID-19 and influenza A and B will give you results in 30 minutes, for $24.99.  

In select states, our pharmacists are now able to evaluate and prescribe antiviral medicine for eligible patients who test positive for COVID-19 or flu.

5. Over the counter (OTC) medication guidance 

Choosing the right OTC medication can be confusing, but Walgreens pharmacists can help guide you. Whether you’re fighting a cold or dealing with allergies, they’ll recommend the best option while ensuring it’s a safe fit with any prescriptions you’re already taking. This expert advice can save you time and help avoid unwanted side effects. 

6. Insurance and cost navigation

Navigating insurance plans can feel like a maze, but Walgreens pharmacists are here to simplify things. They help you find affordable medication options, when possible, like generics, and assist with applying savings cards or other discounts.  

Relying on your Walgreens pharmacist, wherever you are

If you can’t get to your local Walgreens pharmacy, the pharmacy is just a phone call or click away. Walgreens remains focused on combining the convenience of technology with the personal touch of a trusted pharmacist.  

“Walgreens is meeting patients where they are to give them a better handle on their care—online, in person or by phone,” Patel says.

Pharmacists remain a vital resource on your healthcare team. They provide personalized care, offering guidance and support beyond dispensing medications, ensuring individuals receive the attention and advice they need for improved health results. Stop by your local Walgreens and speak with your pharmacist to experience a new level of care and convenience.  

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