Put this one in the “nobody's perfect” category.
Dr. Robert London, national medical director for Walgreen Co., headquartered in a northern Chicago suburb, used his appearance on a panel at the American Medical Group Association annual conference recently in Orlando, Fla., to tout all the new and innovative things his company is doing as it moves beyond its traditional role as a retail pharmacy. These include its participation in three accountable care organizations, its success in improving patient prescription adherence, and a possible role in helping AMGA groups keep patients out of hospital emergency departments.
But then Dr. Mark Shields, senior medical director for Advocate Physician Partners and vice president for Advocate Health Care (headquartered in a western Chicago suburb), threw some water on the proceedings by asking about cigarette sales at Walgreens stores.
