LAS VEGAS, May 30, 2012 - Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) subsidiary Take Care Health Systems and The Valley Health System today announced a new relationship that will facilitate greater clinical coordination and enhance access to high-quality, convenient and affordable health care options available at Take Care Clinics in Southern Nevada.
Take Care Health Systems is the largest and most comprehensive manager of convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers in the United States. Take Care Clinics are professional health care centers located at more than 350 Walgreens drugstores across the country, including 13 locations in Southern Nevada. Take Care Clinics are open seven days a week, including evenings and weekends with walk-in and appointment availability, giving patients the option to access a variety of health care services at their convenience.
The Valley Health System is comprised of five hospitals in Southern Nevada including Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center, Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center, Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center, Summerlin Hospital Medical Center and Valley Hospital Medical Center.
“The evidence is clear that in today’s healthcare environment, greater coordination has the ability to help patients receive access to the right level of care in the right setting,” said Karla Perez, vice president – Acute Division for Universal Health Services. “This relationship with Take Care Health Systems allows us to better serve our patients by providing a more strategic approach to care. We are truly excited about what we will be able to achieve for the Southern Nevada community through this collaboration.”
Components of the relationship between The Valley Health System and Take Care Health Systems will include:
- Coordination of care for patients of The Valley Health System by Take Care Clinic providers for diagnostic, specialty and acute care services.
- Access to 13 Take Care Clinic locations in Southern Nevada for non-urgent emergency department overflow, after hours care and other non-emergent needs.
- Providing patients with information about their care options and the respective services, locations, and hours of operation at Take Care Clinics and The Valley Health System.
“Walgreens and Take Care Health Systems are focused on utilizing our unique set of health care services and community locations to deliver quality, cost-effective solutions to payers and providers,” said Heather Helle, divisional vice president for Walgreens Consumer Solutions Group. “The agreements we’ve reached with health systems across the country increase high-quality, convenient and affordable health care options in local communities, while offering an exceptional experience designed to provide patients the right care, in the right location, at the right cost. We are excited to form this relationship with The Valley Health System to expand health care options in the Southern Nevada community.”
Patients today are increasingly looking for affordable, accessible health care options. According to research published in the September 2010 issue of Health Affairs, between 13.7 and 27.1 percent of emergency department visits could take place at retail clinics or urgent care centers, with a potential cost savings of $4.4 billion annually. According to this research, retail clinics, such as Take Care Clinics at select Walgreens, have been shown to save patients $279 to $460 per visit compared to emergency department costs.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living. 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. The company operates 7,855 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. 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.
About Universal Health Services
Universal Health Services, Inc. is one of the nation's largest hospital companies, operating, through its subsidiaries, acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and ambulatory centers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Walgreens
Gabe Weissman, 484-351-3040
http://news.walgreens.com