ST. LOUIS — Healthcare Clinic, the retail clinic arm of Walgreen Co., has entered a clinical affiliation with SSM Health Care-St. Louis.
The companies said Thursday that the collaboration is slated to go into effect in January.
Under the agreement, patients who currently see an SSM Health Care primary care doctor and visit a Healthcare Clinic in the St. Louis area will benefit from enhanced information sharing. Healthcare Clinic nurse practitioners will be able to access information, such as allergies and medications, through sharing of an electronic health record going live later in 2014.
In addition, SSM Health Care physicians will receive their patients’ discharge reports via this information sharing platform so they are aware of the clinic visit and can provide any necessary follow-up care.
"Given the challenges facing today’s health care system, Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens is ideally positioned to provide greater patient access to quality, convenient and affordable care," Alan London, chief medical officer for Walgreens’ Consumer Solutions Group, said in a statement. "The collaboration with SSM Health Care aims to improve coordination of care for patients throughout the St. Louis community."
Plans call for the collaboration to initially start at a dozen Healthcare Clinics in Missouri, including locations in O’Fallon, Kirkwood, Ellisville, High Ridge, St. Louis, Wentzville, Arnold, St. Charles, Webster Groves and Chesterfield.
"SSM Health Care believes in building relationships with physicians and other providers that enhance our ability to improve our community’s health," stated Shane Peng, interim president of physician and ambulatory services at SSM Health Care. "Our affiliation with Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens will improve patient access to coordinated, affordable, quality care."
SSM Health Care noted that the collaboration will give its more than 2,500 staff physicians, including more than 100 primary care providers, another treatment option to offer patients for non-emergent and after-hours care that maintains coordination of care between providers.
"This innovative collaboration with Walgreens enables SSM Health Care to expand our reach in the communities we serve," commented Gaurov Dayal, president of health care delivery, finance and integration and executive vice president at SSM Health Care. "Health care across this country is undergoing significant transformation, and working in partnership with other likeminded organizations such as Walgreens is a critical element to becoming a leading provider of population-based health services."
