Walgreens to expand in-store health clinics in Northwest

Deerfield, Ill. —Walgreens and Providence Health & Services are entering a strategic clinical collaboration that plans to bring up to 25 new retail clinics to Oregon and Washington. The clinics will be owned and operated by Providence and its affiliates, and become the first to open at Walgreens stores under a new collaborative services model.

Providence Express Care at Walgreens, or Swedish Express Care at Walgreens in the Seattle area, will provide an integrated health care option for patients. In the near term, Walgreens and Providence will open three clinics in both the Portland and Seattle areas in early 2016, with plans for further expansion within the next two years.

The Providence and Swedish electronic health record platform will connect directly to the clinics to create a seamless experience no matter where patients choose to gain access to care. Information and care is coordinated between visits.

The clinics will operate extended hours seven days a week, allow for walk-ins and same-day scheduling and provide an after-hours option for care on evenings and weekends.

Swedish Health Services providers will staff Issaquah, Kirkland and Renton, Washungton locations and Providence providers will staff Beaverton and Milwaukie, Ore. and Vancouver, Washington locations.

As part of the agreement, Walgreens and Providence will form a collaborative leadership governance council to further advance retail health. The council will bring together Walgreens expertise in retail pharmacy and national Healthcare Clinic operations, with Providence’s health system and patient care expertise. The council will explore opportunities for Providence to participate in Walgreens national retail clinic and pharmacy programs, as well as opportunities to integrate additional retail health services and offerings into the customer and patient experience at Walgreens.