Rival drugstore chains continued this week to expand their footprints in retail health with retail clinics. Walgreen Co. announced a new clinic adjacent to Johns Hopkins East Baltimore medical campus, while CVS Caremark Corp. announced a partnership with Parkridge Health System to run seven clinics near Chattanooga, Tenn.
These moves are indicative of the continued push by retailers into healthcare, buoyed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
CVS also announced the opening of two clinics in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS plans to open 150 clinics this year. Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen operates clinics in 20 states, including the nation's capital.
“The alliance between Parkridge Health System and MinuteClinic provides patients in our area with a comprehensive continuum of care,” said Darrell Moore, Parkridge's president and CEO in a news release. “It ensures that individuals have access to the level of medical treatment appropriate for their condition. Our facilities and staff are fully committed to providing all patients with the highest quality care.”
Walgreen first partnered with Johns Hopkins in 2011, and officials also tout the new store healthy eating options as means to address population health.
“Our pharmacy and Take Care Clinic will provide an environment for collaborative healthcare innovation, while also providing greater access to healthcare services for the Johns Hopkins community, students, employees and patients,” Kermit Crawford, Walgreen's president of pharmacy, health and wellness, said in a release. “This new venture is another way in which we're advancing community pharmacy to help more people get, stay and live well.”
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