NEW ORLEANS — Take Care Health Systems has entered a clinical alliance with Ochsner Health System to improve patient access to affordable, convenient health care services in the greater New Orleans region.
The Walgreens retail clinic subsidiary said Thursday that the enhanced relationship between Take Care and Ochsner will promote information sharing on Take Care Clinics and other health care options when Ochsner care settings are closed or unable to schedule an appointment within a patient’s desired timeframe. Professionals at the Ochsner on-call nurse system and with the health system’s scheduling group will have access to information on Take Care Clinic locations, evening and weekend hours, and services available to patients and their families.
In addition, providers at Take Care Clinics will have information available to educate patients on Ochsner Clinics and health care services and will continue to provide patient information on a variety of health care resources. If a patient at a Take Care Clinic requires care that falls outside the setting’s scope of service, Take Care providers can quickly offer the patient a copy of their visit records to share with other providers at Ochsner or other health care facilities, the walk-in clinic operator said.
"With tens of millions of Americans poised to gain access to health insurance through reform, it’s critical that innovators and leaders in health care identify the most efficient and effective ways for patients to access high-quality health care services," stated Heather Helle, divisional vice president for the Walgreens Consumer Solutions Group. "Relationships with health care innovators such as Ochsner Health System will make accessing care simpler and easier for patients while providing relief to the already overtaxed health care system. Walgreens has and will continue to join forces with health care leaders who strive to offer accessible, quality care for patients."
Take Care has more than 350 clinics in Walgreens drug stores nationwide, including four locations in the New Orleans/North Shore community. Ochsner Health System is southeast Louisiana’s largest nonprofit, academic, multispecialty health care delivery system, with eight hospitals and over 38 health centers in Louisiana.
"The Ochsner Health community is committed to providing the absolute best patient care and experience to the people of Southeast Louisiana," Warner Thomas, president and chief operating officer of Ochsner Health System, said in a statement. "Our exploration of Take Care Health and the quality of care that is provided in Take Care Clinics has clearly shown that we can offer patients one more option as they seek access to affordable and convenient health care services."
