CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Take Care Health Systems has added new diagnostic tests and administrative physicals to its menu of primary health care services.
The Walgreen Co. retail health clinic subsidiary also has affiliated with The Valley Health System in southern Nevada.
Take Care Health Systems said Thursday that new tests now available at the more than 360 Take Care Clinics nationwide include an A1C test; a blood test for monitoring type 1 and type 2 diabetes and to track a patient’s progress in managing the disease; a microalbumin test, a urine test for people with diabetes and high blood pressure to detect possible kidney damage or disease; and a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), a lab test that can help identify hidden blood in the stool, which could be an indicator of colon cancer or polyps in the colon.
Administrative physicals needed for life events such as adoption, insurance certification, marriage, school admission and employment verification have also launched at Take Care Clinics. These services include a physical exam, an immunization review and the completion of the clinical sections of forms that must be filled out as part of a required physical.
The company said it rolled out the new services in response to input from patients, managed care organizations and health care providers on ways to help prevent the progression of disease and use the most appropriate point of care.
"By providing convenient access to common diagnostic tests in Take Care Clinics, we can assist primary care providers and others in the health care system in early detection, diagnosing, managing and ultimately helping to prevent disease," Sandra Festa Ryan, chief nurse practitioner officer for Take Care Health Systems, said in a statement. "Providers often recommend these tests for patients based on history and clinical findings, and our convenient hours and locations remove barriers for those who would otherwise forgo care. By making these tests more accessible to patients, our clinics can play an important role in preventing unchecked disease progression and overuse of more costly emergency rooms."
Under the affiliation with Valley Health System, announced Wednesday, Take Care Clinics and the hospital network will coordinate their patients’ care for diagnostic, specialty and acute care services. Valley Health also will have access to 13 Take Care Clinic locations in southern Nevada for non-urgent emergency department overflow, after-hours care and other non-emergency needs.
In addition, Take Care Clinics and Valley Health will provide patients with information about their care options and their respective services, locations and hours of operation.
"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," stated 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."
The Valley Health System encompasses 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 health care environment, greater coordination has the ability to help patients receive access to the right level of care in the right setting," commented Karla Perez, vice president of the acute division for universal health services at Valley Health. "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."
