Walgreens, Aurora Health Care to partner on 8 retail clinics

DEERFIELD, Ill. – Walgreens and Aurora Health Care on Tuesday announced that Aurora Health Care will own and operate, and provide all clinical services at, eight retail health clinics to be located within Walgreens stores across eastern Wisconsin.



“At Aurora Health Care, we are constantly looking for ways to enhance access to care and make care more convenient, which is exactly what this new collaboration with Walgreens does,” stated Jeffrey Bahr, president-elect of Aurora Health Care Medical Group. “For those times when patients need quick, on-the-go care, we’re pleased to offer them access to Aurora’s high-quality, cost-efficient care with no appointment necessary, all inside a convenient neighborhood Walgreens.”



As part of the agreement, Walgreens and Aurora Health Care will form a collaborative council to share best practices and experiences that aim to improve patient care, quality and satisfaction while reducing health care costs. With a joint focus on how to better serve the population of eastern Wisconsin, the two organizations will also continue to explore ways to provide new community access points.



 Aurora will also provide a seamless care experience for patients, as care will be truly integrated, whether patients visit an Aurora Health Care physician, an Aurora Health Care medical center or an Aurora QuickCare Clinic at Walgreens.



“There is a growing need for convenient access to high quality and affordable healthcare services,” commented Pat Carroll, chief medical officer for Walgreens Healthcare Clinics. “By entering into new, innovative retail clinic collaborations with established community health systems like Aurora Health Care, we continue to help serve that need.”



Five existing Walgreens Healthcare Clinics are planned to transition to Aurora next spring, at which time the clinics will become an extension of Aurora Health Care. Walgreens will continue to manage these Healthcare Clinic locations until that time.  In addition, Aurora plans to open three new retail clinics in other area Walgreens stores in the spring.



All of the sites will be named Aurora Quick Care Clinic at Walgreens. The sites will operate seven days a week, including evenings, which gives patients the option to access a variety of health care services without an appointment.