Take Care expands, adds new execs

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. Walgreens today announced major expansion plans and leadership changes for Take Care Health Systems, one of the largest managers of convenient care clinics. The company is entering nine new markets this fall and has appointed new senior executives to help with its growth strategy.

Walgreens is opening Take Care Health Systems clinics in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Tenn., Orlando, Fla., Tampa, Fla. and Tucson, Ariz. In addition, the company is expanding in its existing markets of Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee and St. Louis, with plans to open up to 100 new Take Care Health Clinics by the end of 2007.

Among the new executives named at Take Care Health Systems are Heather Helle, who joins the company as coo, and Kim Rhodes, who joins the company as chief strategist.

Helle will be in charge of overseeing growth of Take Care Health Systems and will lead and direct the operations, human resources, marketing, medical and nursing business lines within the company. She was a former executive with McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Johnson & Johnson.

Rhodes will be responsible for Walgreens strategic initiatives while concurrently leading strategic direction for Take Care Health Systems. Previously senior vp and general counsel for Ecount, a Citi Company, Rhodes was responsible for the marketing of the business and concluding a merger transaction resulting in the acquisition of Ecount for the highest valuation to date for a financial services business in this market space.