Walgreens and Orlando Health Announce Clinical Collaboration Agreement

PRESS RELEASE

DEERFIELD, Ill., Aug 28, 2013 -- Walgreens WAG -3.22% WAG -3.22% and Orlando Health, a comprehensive not-for-profit health care organization based in Orlando, Fla., today announced a clinical collaboration that will provide coordinated and expanded health care services, while improving patient access to high-quality, convenient and affordable care throughout Central Florida. The collaboration and services offered will include:

-- Greater access to care with Healthcare Clinics at select Walgreens offering evening and weekend hours, convenient locations and online appointment scheduling

-- Coordination of care for Orlando Health patients with Healthcare Clinic providers for acute, chronic and preventive services

-- Direct communication between Orlando Health physicians and Healthcare Clinic nurse practitioners to facilitate care coordination and sharing of patient information

-- Increasing patient awareness regarding Orlando Health services, as well as information and awareness of Healthcare Clinic services, including routine screening, monitoring, immunizations, and clinic locations and hours

"In today's health care landscape, these types of innovative coordinated care programs are vitally important to help ensure patients have access to the quality care they need," said Jeffrey Kang, M.D., Walgreens senior vice president of health and wellness services and solutions. "With our expansive retail footprint, diverse portfolio of health care assets and proven success in collaborating with others in the medical community, Walgreens is uniquely positioned to bridge critical gaps in care and improve patient outcomes, furthering our mission to help patients get, stay and live well."

Walgreens and Orlando Health are also exploring opportunities to share electronic medical records, with the goal of developing read-only access to real-time patient medical information. This level of coordination could also include creating online or call center appointment scheduling technology to further increase patient access to services.

"A key tenet of our mission is to improve the health of the individuals in the communities we serve, and by utilizing new approaches, such as this relationship with Walgreens, we'll be able to better reach and treat the patients of Central Florida," said Wayne Jenkins, M.D. MPH, president, Orlando Health Physician Partners. "This relationship represents the type of collaborative strategies that we view as essential in the emerging health care environment. We're confident that by working together our two organizations can help ensure that patients are receiving the best care, in the best locations, as well as a truly seamless care experience."

Orlando Health has six wholly-owned hospitals and two partnership hospitals throughout Central Florida, a skilled nursing facility, Physician Associates, one of the largest multi-specialty physician practices in central Florida, consisting of more than 90 physicians in more than 20 locations, along with more than 2,500 affiliated physicians. The clinical collaboration includes 13 Healthcare Clinic locations at select Walgreens in nearby cities including Orlando, Kissimmee, Apopka, Winter Springs, Clermont, Lake Buena Vista, Lake Mary, Winter Park and Windermere, Florida.

"Orlando Health is an established health care leader in Central Florida, and its integrated approach to improving the community's health is a great strategic fit for Walgreens and our mission," Kang said.