Walgreens Named as One of Fast Company Magazine’s Most Innovative Health Care Companies

02.18.10

—Fast Company’s ‘Fast 50’ Recognizes World’s Most Innovative Companies—

—Walgreens Lauded for Transforming from a Pure Dispenser of Drugs to Community Health Provider—

DEERFIELD, Ill — February 18, 2010 — Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) today announced it has been selected by Fast Company Magazine as one of the health care industry’s most innovative companies as part of the magazine’s "Fast 50" issue which celebrates the world's most innovative companies. Walgreens was highlighted alongside other health care innovators including leading health system Kaiser Permanente, patient-community network Patients Like Me, robotic surgery leader Intuitive Surgical and technology providers GE and Cisco. Walgreens was recognized for leadership in health care services, from its national network of Take Care Clinics at select Walgreens stores to its burgeoning efforts in health and wellness services and chronic care management, including its recently unveiled Walgreens Optimal Wellness initiative, a program designed to educate and treat patients suffering from chronic disease conditions such as diabetes.

“We are thrilled to be named in the pages of Fast Company among the world’s most innovative organizations,” said Colin Watts, Walgreen chief innovation officer. “To be recognized for our innovation in health care is especially gratifying as it validates the significant investment and progress we are making toward our goal of truly becoming a trusted community health provider and in making a measurable and important difference in our customers’ and patients’ lives.”

Hal Rosenbluth, Walgreen senior vice president and president of the Health and Wellness division, said, “Whether through our in-store health clinics or by revolutionizing employer health care offerings, Walgreens has big ideas about the state of health care in America, as well as the commitment, people and presence to deliver on the promise of more convenient, affordable care to both patients and corporations across the country.”

Walgreens is transforming itself from a pure dispenser of drugs to a community health provider.

• Take Care Clinics, located at 357 Walgreens stores in 19 states, have delivered care to nearly 3 million Americans since its 2005 launch.
• Walgreens Take Care Health Systems counts more than 700 in-store health clinics and employer-based health and wellness locations across the country. Through Take Care Health Systems, Walgreens delivers employer health care services, including on-site health, wellness, fitness and pharmacy solutions for a client’s employee population, combined with cutting-edge programs for managing drug spend.
  • Walgreens launched Pharmacy Management Excellence, a direct to employer, transparent prescription drug pricing program, with Caterpillar Inc. as its initial client. PME utilizes Walgreens national drugstore footprint to provide pharmaceuticals to a company’s workforce anywhere they’re located.
• Walgreens and Take Care Clinics administered more than 7 million seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines this season.
• Walgreens is on the frontlines of delivering accessible health care, with nearly 70,000 health care providers, including pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, fitness and health coaches and more.
• Walgreens focuses on disease prevention and health education, recently announcing a limited-time offer for free blood glucose testing at its pharmacies and Take Care Clinics.
• Walgreens launched Optimal Wellness, a self-care educational program for people with chronic conditions (initially type 2 diabetes) that capitalizes on the power of face-to-face interaction with the community pharmacist and nurse practitioner.
• Walgreens unveiled its 90-day at retail program in late 2009, encouraging the delivery of maintenance and chronic care medication through its national network of community pharmacies. More consistent and regular visits with Walgreens pharmacists will lead to greater adherence to chronic medications and improved health for patients.

“We are creating an environment in which our nearly 70,000-strong health care providers can deliver the full extent of care their training and capabilities allow,” said Kermit R. Crawford, Walgreens executive vice president of pharmacy. “In doing so, we are truly transforming Walgreens into a trusted health care provider to our customers and patients. Within pharmacy, this includes pharmacists interacting and counseling patients in new ways. Whether taking an active role in diabetes care or other chronic conditions, Walgreens will continue to lead the way in introducing new programs to care for customers and patients.”

Fast Company Magazine chronicled some of Walgreens health care ambitions in July 2009 under the banner, "Why Walgreens Is Building Its Own Universal Health-Care System," available at: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/137/not-a-mickey-mouse-operation.html.

To create this year’s Most Innovative Companies issue, Fast Company’s editorial team analyzed information on thousands of businesses across the globe. The result is a package unlike that of any other business media. It’s not just about revenue growth and profit margins; it’s about identifying creative models and progressive cultures – to define the many forms of innovation that exist across the business landscape.

The complete list and related stories appear in the March 2010 issue of Fast Company magazine currently on newsstands and online at www.fastcompany.com/MIC.

About WalgreensWalgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2009 sales of $63 billion. The company operates 7,162 drugstores in all 50 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 Walgreens Long-Term Care Pharmacy LLC. Walgreens Health and Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems, the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.