PENSACOLA — Walgreens and Sacred Heart Health System have signed an agreement to have Sacred Heart operate and provide all clinical services at four retail health clinics to be located within Walgreens stores in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Two existing Walgreens Healthcare Clinics will transition to Sacred Heart this spring, at which time the clinics will become an extension of the Sacred Heart Medical Group. Walgreens will continue to manage these Healthcare Clinic locations until that time.
In addition, Sacred Heart plans to open two retail clinics in other area Walgreens stores in the spring. All the sites will be named Sacred Heart Clinic at Walgreens.
This new clinic agreement expands on an existing clinical collaboration and pharmacy relationship between Walgreens and Sacred Heart focused on enhanced communications to better coordinate care.
The new agreement further improves care coordination by fully integrating the clinics into Sacred Heart Medical Group. In addition, Walgreens operates an on-site pharmacy at Sacred Heart Hospital’s main campus, where Walgreens provides pharmacy services for Sacred Heart patients and employees.
“Our collaboration with Walgreens is an important step in Sacred Heart’s commitment to improve access to care and to improve the health of the communities we serve,” said Susan Davis, president and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System. “The convenience of Walgreens locations and its pharmacy services, along with Sacred Heart’s personalized care and expertise, will advance our efforts to improve the health of our patients. We want to offer the most appropriate level of care to consumers when and where they need it.”
Sacred Heart Clinic at Walgreens locations will include:
- 8220 Navarre Parkway, Navarre
- 6314 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola
- 3909 Highway 90, Pace
- 2237 W. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola
As part of the agreement, Walgreens and Sacred Heart will also form a collaborative council to share best practices and experiences that aim to improve patient care, quality, and satisfaction, while reducing health care costs.
“With the changing needs of patients in today’s healthcare environment, forming deeper and more collaborative relationships with health systems is key,” said Pat Carroll, MD, chief medical officer for Walgreens Healthcare Clinics. “We continue to expand our relationships with established community health systems, like Sacred Heart, in efforts to enhance care coordination for our patients. We look forward to collaborating even more with Sacred Heart as they share our commitment to provide convenient access to high-quality and affordable health care services.”
Sacred Heart plans to operate the Sacred Heart Clinic at Walgreens locations seven days a week, including evenings, giving patients the option to access a variety of health care services without an appointment.
Board-certified nurse practitioners will provide care for common minor illnesses and injuries. Sacred Heart will evaluate the possibility of new services in the future.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Sacred Heart Health System, Walgreens sign agreement