WASHINGTON and DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has become a member of the Care Continuum Alliance, a global trade group aimed at bringing together all stakeholders in health care to help improve population health.
"Walgreens is a welcome new member and ideal fit for our organization," Care Continuum Alliance president and chief executive officer Tracey Moorhead said in a statement Friday. "Their work to promote healthful lifestyles and empower consumers to reduce risk aligns with our mission to improve care quality and value, particularly for people with or at risk of chronic disease."
The alliance represents more than 200 organizations and individuals providing services across the continuum of health care, from wellness and prevention to chronic condition management and complex care management. Through advocacy, research and education, the association promotes evidence-based strategies to improve health care outcomes and reduce avoidable care costs.
"Our mission every day is to provide customers and patients support to help them live a ‘well’ life," stated Cheryl Pegus, chief medical officer for Walgreens. "With more than 8,500 points of care, including Walgreens drug stores within three miles of 63% of the U.S. population, we are uniquely positioned to serve as a true community health care resource.
"Together our pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, home care nurses and other health care professionals provide guidance and solutions to improve disease prevention, adherence to medications and chronic disease management for tens of millions of patients each year," Pegus added.
The Care Continuum Alliance noted that it has focused much effort in recent years on improving employee health and productivity, especially via research on outcomes measurement. Its Outcomes Guidelines project has produced consensus clinical and financial measures for wellness and population health management programs, as well as guidance on other key outcomes, such as medication adherence. The alliance added that it also has advocated successfully for more support of wellness and prevention in federal programs and in the private market.
