Walgreens, LSU Unite to Improve Care Coordination in New Orleans

Take Care Health Systems (TCHS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens, and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) and LSU Healthcare Network (LSUHN), located in New Orleans, have formed a partnership which will increase opportunities for clinical coordination and improve patient access to the convenient and affordable health care options available at Take Care Clinics in the greater New Orleans region.

TCHS manages a number of convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers nationwide, including the Take Care Clinics. Take Care Clinics are professional walk-in health care centers located at more than 350 Walgreens drugstores across the country, including 4 locations in the greater New Orleans community.

Take Care Clinics are open 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends, giving patients the option to access a variety of health care services at their convenience. No appointment is necessary.

Components of the relationship between LSUHSC, LSUHN and TCHS will include:

• Development of an interface between each organization’s electronic health record system to enable effective scheduling and information sharing between organizations.
• Opportunities for students in the LSUHSC Nurse Practitioner Training Program to precept at Take Care Clinics in the New Orleans area.
• Take Care Clinic participation in LSUHN’s development of a regional medical plan for certain non-insured working persons.
• Establishment of a new Take Care Clinic in close proximity to the LSU Health Sciences Center.
• Participation of LSUHSC and LSUHN physicians as collaborating physicians for Take Care Clinics in the region.

In addition, LSUHN health professionals will share information on Take Care Clinics and other health care options when their locations are closed or they are unable to schedule an appointment within a patient’s desired timeframe. Professionals at LSUHN affiliated practices will have access to information on Take Care Clinic locations, evening and weekend hours and services available to patients and their families.

“Every day we see evidence that greater continuity of care between providers and more access points to health care services can directly drive better patient outcomes at lower costs,” said Larry Hollier, MD, chancellor of LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, in a statement. “Our relationship with Walgreens and Take Care Systems will help ensure that our patients are receiving high-quality coordinated care, while also allowing us to make our network even more accessible to a larger number of individuals. Payers, providers and most importantly patients have been telling us that increased coordination is what is needed in the current health care environment, and we are excited about the potential benefits this partnership can achieve.”