DEERFIELD, Ill., February 27, 2012 - For the second time in three years, Walgreens (NYSE: WAG)(NASDAQ: WAG) has been selected by Fast Company Magazine as one of the health care industry’s most innovative companies, as part of the magazine’s "Fast 50" issue, celebrating the world's most innovative companies.
Walgreens was recognized for leadership and innovation in health care services, from its Well Experience store format – highlighted by a new approach to the pharmacy and health care experience -- to addressing the need for greater access to healthy foods in underserved communities, and plans to become the nation’s leading retail host of electric vehicle charging stations.
“We’re honored to again be recognized by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative organizations,” said Kermit Crawford, Walgreens president of pharmacy, health and wellness services and solutions. “With more than 7,800 community drugstores and a network of health care professionals trusted by millions of people every day, innovation is how we provide greater access to a wide variety of health and daily living needs.”
Walgreens has a rich history of innovation spanning more than 110 years. In 2011, Walgreens introduced a number of significant programs and initiatives to meet the changing needs of customers, the health care system and the thousands of communities it services throughout the U.S.
Advancing Community Pharmacy
Walgreens continues to advance community pharmacy by providing greater patient access to expanded health care services. At the core of this approach is an initiative that positions pharmacists at a desk in front of the pharmacy to provide more patient counseling, offer clinical services and answer questions. By making community pharmacists more accessible, Walgreens aims to create better health outcomes and generate cost savings for patients, payers and the health care system.
This concept has been implemented at close to 100 pilot stores in the Chicago and Indianapolis markets as part of Walgreens Well Experience store format.
Other features of these stores include:
- Health guides, who are Walgreens staff members available to answer product and service questions and help customers find the best solutions for their health care needs. Health guides can also assist patients with check-in for the Take Care Clinics.
- Take Care Clinics, located in select stores, offer walk-in, accessible and affordable health care services provided by board-certified nurse practitioners or physician assistants.
- Express Rx, self-serve touch-screen kiosks that allow patients to quickly pick up and pay for pre-ordered prescriptions refills.
- A health corner for individual or group health and wellness events, customized for the local community.
- Private or semi-private consultation rooms that provide a clinical environment ideal for services such as immunizations, blood pressure testing, blood glucose and A1C tests and self-injectable medications.
Providing Greater Access to Healthy Foods in Underserved Communities
In conjunction with First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America’s efforts to fight childhood obesity, Walgreens in July announced a major effort to bring healthier food options and more accessible health care resources to its stores in underserved communities.
As part of the commitment, Walgreens plans to convert or open at least 1,000 “food oasis” stores across the country over the next five years.
“With more than 45 percent of our stores located in areas that don’t have ready access to fresh food, we are uniquely positioned to bring more food options to Americans and also provide needed pharmacy, health and wellness services directly to those communities,” Crawford said.
Nation’s Leading Retail Host of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Walgreens plans to offer electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at approximately 800 locations across the country, which it expects will make it the nation’s largest retail host. The company’s neighborhood stores provide convenient locations for EV drivers to recharge near home or work. The charging stations will feature either a high-speed direct current (DC) charger that can add 30 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes of charging time, or a Level 2 charger that can add up to 25 miles of range per hour of charge.
Walgreens has already added EV charging stations to select stores in markets including Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Florida, Oregon, Washington and Washington, D.C.
To create the Most Innovative Companies issue, Fast Company’s editorial team analyzes information on thousands of businesses across the globe. The result is a package unlike that of any other business media. It’s not just about revenue growth and profit margins; it’s about identifying creative models and progressive cultures – to define the many forms of innovation that exist across the business landscape.
The complete list and related stories appear in the March 2012 issue of Fast Company magazine currently on newsstands and online at www.fastcompany.com.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion. The company operates 7,830 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 service 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
Robert Elfinger, (847) 315-2962
http://news.walgreens.com