Walgreens and Take Care Health Systems are Prepared to Educate Patients and Provide Relevant Resources on H1N1 Flu
04.29.09
— Walgreens Pharmacists and Take Care Health Providers are Ready to Provide Information to Patients across Pharmacies, Take Care Clinics and Employer On-site Health Centers —
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — April 29, 2009 — Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) and Take Care Health Systems, the largest and most comprehensive provider of convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers in the country and a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens, have 66,000 health care professionals ready to provide information on H1N1 flu (�swine flu�) at its 6,736 drugstores, 343 in-store Take Care Clinics and nearly 370 employer on-site health and wellness locations across the country.
Pharmacists and Take Care Health Providers are prepared to educate patients and provide recommendations for individuals seeking information on H1N1 flu. Take Care Health Providers can assess patients with flu-like symptoms, clinically diagnose for H1N1 flu and provide appropriate treatment, such as prescriptions for recommended anti-viral medications that can be filled at the patient�s pharmacy of choice.
�Take Care Health Providers are up-to-date on the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and have relevant protocols for diagnosing and treating the H1N1 flu,� said Allan Khoury, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Take Care Health Systems. �As with any patient health concern or question, providers are available to give information and education to patients at both our Take Care Clinics and employer on-site health and wellness centers and pharmacies across the country.�
Many of our on-site health center locations at employers can provide rapid testing services. The remaining employer on-site health centers will have rapid flu testing soon; Take Care Clinics at Walgreens drugstores will have the testing by the end of the week in most locations. A rapid flu test cannot diagnose the H1N1 flu strain specifically, but positive tests for Influenza A may suggest H1N1 flu, as the normal flu season is nearly over. Take Care Health Providers will treat patients based on clinical symptoms and exposure risk and rapid flu testing does not usually change overall treatment plan.
�Take Care Clinics have seen patients inquiring about the H1N1 flu, asking questions about symptoms and how to protect themselves and their family,� said Sandra Ryan, RN, MSN, CPNP and Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer for Take Care Health Systems. �Nurse practitioners and physician assistants follow CDC recommendations to prescribe anti-viral medications based upon current symptoms, suspected or confirmed exposure to the H1N1 flu, and/or an individual�s situation in regards to traveling to an area of a confirmed case.�
Take Care Health Systems is working collaboratively with its employer clients to assist in any potential pandemic planning and provide customized solutions to meet the company�s needs. In addition, Take Care Health Systems is coordinating with local health departments to track and monitor for potential H1N1 flu cases.
Walgreens drugstores are prepared to meet increased demand for anti-viral medications including Tamiflu and Relenza. Stores are also well-stocked with the essentials for basic virus prevention including antibacterial hand soaps, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, latex gloves, disinfectant cleaners and other supplies.
About Take Care Health SystemsSM
Take Care Health Systems (www.takecarehealthsystem.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens and part of Walgreens Health and Wellness division, is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and convenient care clinics in the country. TCHS is comprised of Take Care Consumer Solutions (www.takecarehealth.com) and Take Care Health Employer Solutions (www.takecareemployersolutions.com). Take Care Consumer Solutions manages Take Care Clinics at select Walgreens drugstores throughout the country. Patient care at each of the Take Care Clinics is provided by Take Care Health Services, an independently owned state professional corporation established in each market. Take Care Health Employer Solutions manages primary care, health and wellness, occupational health, pharmacy and fitness centers at large employer campuses. Combined, Take Care Health Systems manages more than 700 worksite and retail health care centers.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2008 sales of $59 billion. The company operates 6,736 drugstores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and services and cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems.
Key Contact:
Lauren Nestler
for Take Care Health Systems
484-351-3212
Lauren.Nestler@takecarehealth.com