DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Access to health care services is an ongoing challenge to the U.S. health care system. With a physician shortage, aging population, a growing prevalence of chronic diseases and up to 30 million people projected to gain insurance coverage in 2014 through the Affordable Care Act, the issue will become even more critical and may further impact both patients and the health care system at large.

To help meet the need for greater access to affordable health services and bridge gaps in patient care, while also improving care coordination, Walgreens (WAG) (WAG) today announced its Take Care Clinics are expanding the scope of health care services offered. The new services, now available at the more than 330 Take Care Clinics located at select Walgreens (excludes clinics in Missouri), include assessment, treatment and management for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma and others, as well as additional preventive health services.

With this service expansion, Take Care Clinics now provide the most comprehensive service offering within the retail clinic industry, and can play an even more valuable role in helping patients get, stay and live well, said Dr. Jeffrey Kang, senior vice president of health and wellness services and solutions, Walgreens. Through greater access to services and a broader focus on disease prevention and chronic condition management, our clinics can connect and work with physicians and other providers to better help support the increasing demands on our health care system today.

Service Expansion

Under the new service expansion,in addition to chronic condition management, Take Care Clinic providers can evaluate, recommend and order preventive health services, such as screenings or lab tests, based on a patients age, gender and family history.

Retail clinics have continued to gain greater consumer acceptance, popularity and recognition for delivering quality care. A recent Rand Corporation study showed the use of walk-in retail clinics is on the rise increasing 10-fold over the past two years.1 Studies have also found that retail clinics provide care for routine illnesses at a lower cost and similar quality as physician offices, urgent care centers or emergency rooms.2

Retail clinic industry estimates show that more than one in three patients do not have a regular physician.3 Walgreens and Take Care Health strongly encourage all patients to have a designated primary care physician and medical home for ongoing medical needs and routine exams, and under this new service expansion will continue to work collaboratively with providers to support and complement a patients physician care plan.

The existing gaps in patient care and demands on an already overburdened health care system are all projected to worsen with an influx of new patients under health care reform, said Heather Helle, divisional vice president, consumer solutions group, Walgreens. Walgreens is stepping up to be part of the solution. As innovative care delivery models emerge, we are uniquely positioned to play an integral role in addressing the needs of patients, payers, and providers and to help shape the future of health care delivery in the U.S.

Take Care Clinics are open seven days a week, with extended evening and weekend hours, and offer walk-in availability as well as same-day online appointment scheduling. Take Care Clinics accept most major insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid, and offer affordable, transparent pricing for those without insurance coverage. Take Cares board-certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants deliver patient-centric care, driving patient satisfaction rates that are consistently greater than 90 percent. Take Care providers use nationally accepted, evidence-based clinical guidelines to ensure quality care delivery.

Originally posted here:

Take Care Clinics Expand Scope of Health Care Services to Include Chronic Condition Management and Additional ...