Walgreens Hosts Executive Client Forum for Health Systems Leaders to Share Best Practices in the Evolving Health Care Environment

DEERFIELD, Ill., September 29, 2011 - Representatives from leading health systems came together over the past two days to discuss evolving efforts in coordinated patient care at the first Walgreens (NYSE:WAG) (NASDAQ:WAG) Health Systems Executive Client Forum. The event featured presentations from health care thought leaders, health system representatives and Walgreens executives. Throughout the forum attendees participated in activities to identify and share best practices on how health systems can improve quality of care, reduce readmissions and drive cost savings for patients and payers through innovative pharmacy and wellness initiatives.

Jefferson School of Population Health dean, Dr. David Nash, spoke on the role of population health efforts in driving outcomes and moderated a panel discussion on improving coordination across the care continuum, limiting patient readmissions and ensuring that clinicians operate to the extent of their licensure in order to improve access in the health care system. Donna Shalala, PhD., president of the University of Miami and former U.S. secretary of health and human services provided the keynote address to attendees at the two-day event.

“As millions of new individuals enter a health care system that is adapting to evolving patient needs, new reimbursement models and elements of health reform, the benefits of bringing innovators and thought leaders together was powerful,” said Katie Lestan, Walgreens divisional vice president, health systems. “Walgreens network of more than 8,000 pharmacy and health and wellness locations puts us in close contact with thousands of health care institutions and providers across the nation. This in turn puts us in a unique position to assemble health leaders to strategize on lowering costs and improving outcomes for patients and payers.”

In the past year Walgreens publicly announced a number of efforts with health systems across the country. Notable relationships include the development of a chronic care coordination program between Walgreens pharmacists and Northwestern Memorial Health Care physicians in Chicago; and the formation of coordinated care arrangements between Take Care Clinics at select Walgreens and the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and LSU Healthcare Network as well as with Ochsner Health System in New Orleans and with Memorial Health System in Jacksonville, Fla.

Additional featured presentations at the forum included:

• “Ensuring Care Along the Continuum: Challenges and Possible Solutions,” Cheryl Pegus, MD, MPH, chief medical officer, Walgreens
• “HealthCloud: Enabling Improved Care Through Enhanced Technology,” Tim Theriault, chief information officer, Walgreens
• “Extending Health System Reach Into the Community via Retail Clinics,” Peter Hotz, group vice president, Walgreens

Health systems seeking additional information on Walgreens health and pharmacy services can reach out to solutions@walgreens.com.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion. The company operates 7,760 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

Walgreens
Gabe Weissman, (484) 351-3040
http://news.walgreens.com