SSM Health to Operate Retail Clinics at 27 St. Louis Area Walgreens Locations
Walgreens and SSM Health expand relationship to further coordinate
patient care
DEERFIELD, Ill. & ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Walgreens and SSM Health have signed an agreement to expand their
relationship, through which SSM Health will own and operate the clinical
practice and management of operations of 27 retail health clinics within
Walgreens stores across the St. Louis region, including four clinics in
Illinois.
The clinics will transition to SSM Health this fall, at which time the
clinics will become an extension of the SSM Health Medical Group. Upon
transition, the sites will be renamed SSM Health Express Clinic at
Walgreens. Walgreens will continue to manage the existing Walgreens
Healthcare Clinics in these locations until that time.
SSM Health Express Clinic at Walgreens will give consumers improved
access to the compassionate, high-quality care provided by SSM Health.
“This collaboration is an important step in SSM Health’s commitment to
improving the health of our community,” said James Bleicher, MD,
regional president of the SSM Health Medical Group and ambulatory
services in St. Louis. “By combining the convenience of Walgreens
locations with the personalized care and expertise of the SSM Health
Medical Group, we will provide a seamless health care experience for our
patients. This means care that is truly integrated whether you visit an
SSM Health physician, hospital, urgent care or Express Clinic at
Walgreens.”
As part of the agreement, Walgreens and SSM Health will form a joint
council to share best practices and experiences that improve patient
care, quality and satisfaction while reducing health care costs.
“Today’s announcement is another example of how providers can work
together to help improve population health while helping to ensure a
continuum of care for patients in the community,” said Pat Carroll, MD,
chief medical officer for Walgreens Healthcare Clinics. “This also
demonstrates the value of deeper health system collaborations which can
facilitate the transition of retail health clinics from urgent, episodic
care to more coordinated care.”
Walgreens is a provider of pharmacy services for SSM Health patients and
employees and the two organizations will explore opportunities to
integrate other Walgreens services as part of the broader collaboration.
SSM Health Express Clinics at Walgreens will operate seven days a week,
including evenings, which gives patients the option to access a variety
of health care services without an appointment.
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 8 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 8,173 drugstores
with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes
Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and
VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic
and provider practice locations around the country.
About SSM Health
SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the
comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through one
of the largest integrated delivery systems in the nation. SSM Health –
St. Louis operates 8 hospitals, 12 urgent care locations and more than
40 medical offices in the area. One of the largest employers in St.
Louis, SSM Health is recognized as one of the Best Places to Work by the
St. Louis Business Journal. For more information, visit us at www.ssmhealth.com
or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
Contacts
Media Contacts
Emily Hartwig, Walgreens
847-315-3316
Emily.hartwig@walgreens.com
or
Jason
Merrill, SSM Health
314-602-8124
Jason_merrill@ssmhc.com
