Walgreens recognizes its more than 27,000 pharmacists as part of American Pharmacists Month

DEERFIELD, Ill. - Walgreens on Monday recognized its more than 27,000 community pharmacists as part of American Pharmacists Month, honoring the important role they are playing in health care today.

 

“As the most accessible, and among the most trusted healthcare providers in thousands of communities across America, our pharmacists have become a critical part of patients’ healthcare teams, and a valuable partner to many others within our healthcare system,” said Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president of retail and pharmacy operations. “This month is an opportunity to recognize the personalized care our pharmacists provide every day, as we continue to advance the role of community pharmacy to meet the changing needs of patients, payers and the healthcare system at large.”

 

 

Walgreens pharmacists, across more than 8,200 Walgreens and Duane Reade drugstores, have been central to the ongoing advancement of community pharmacy, the company stated, providing a wider range of healthcare services and working more closely than ever before with other providers to ensure continuity of patient care. Walgreens pharmacists today provide a number of preventive services, including immunizations, health testing, chronic care and medication therapy management and patient counseling.

 

During fiscal year 2014, the company’s pharmacists helped to administer a total of 9.6 million immunizations chain-wide, including more than 7.7 million flu shots.

 

With a greater need for access to healthcare services, the company has pharmacists with specialized training to help manage a growing number of chronic conditions such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. In addition, Walgreens pharmacists are working closely to coordinate care with hospitals, health systems and physician groups on medication adherence and transition of care programs such as WellTransitions.