Take Care Health Systems applauds US Senate for declaration of National Convenient Care Clinic Week

Take Care Health Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) and the nation's largest and most comprehensive manager of convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers, today praised the US Senate for its declaration of August 2-8 as "National Convenient Care Clinic Week". The resolution was introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) and passed the Senate by unanimous consent.

“We are honored to see the US Senate recognize the contribution of convenient care clinics to the health care delivery system”

The resolution recognizes the role convenient care clinics, such as Take Care Clinics, can play in providing accessible and cost-effective health care options to complement the traditional health care model. It acknowledges the opportunity that exists given the worsening primary care provider shortage the country is faced with, highlighting the quality of care that is received at the clinics. It calls on the Senate to support the establishment of clinics so that more people will have "access to the cost-effective and necessary emergent and preventative services provided in the clinics."

"We are honored to see the US Senate recognize the contribution of convenient care clinics to the health care delivery system," commented Hal F. Rosenbluth, Walgreens senior vice president, president of Walgreens Health and Wellness division and co-founder of Take Care Health Systems in 2004. "As pioneers in this field, Take Care Health Systems takes great pride in helping to establish the convenient care industry and its lead caregiver - the nurse practitioner -- as an important piece of the health care delivery system. Based on the more than three million patients treated at our clinics over nearly five years in business, it's clear that consumers have embraced the model for its convenience, affordability and high-quality care."

A 2009 RAND study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine notes that retail health facilities, such as Take Care Clinics, offer treatment of common ailments at a substantially lower cost than physician offices, urgent care centers and emergency rooms while providing equal or better levels of care quality.

Take Care Clinics are professional walk-in health care centers located in more than 350 Walgreens drug stores across the country. Clinics are open seven days a week, including evenings and weekends, giving patients the option to access a variety of health care services, including screenings and vaccinations, at their convenience. No appointment is necessary.

"Thousands of nurse practitioners and physician assistants have seized the opportunity to shape the cutting edge of health care innovation through their leadership in the development and growth of convenient care clinics," said Sandra Ryan, RN, MSN, CPNP, FAANP and chief nurse practitioner officer for Take Care Health Systems. "Continued support and recognition of these efforts by our country's leaders will undoubtedly further the industry's overarching mission of providing patients with unprecedented access to quality health care."