Walgreens opens employee wellness center in Illinois

MT. VERNON, Ill. A Walgreens distribution center in Mt. Vernon, Ill., has opened an employee wellness center, which will be operated by Take Care Health Systems. The clinic marks the first worksite facility being operated at a Walgreens worksite, according to a local news report.

By visiting the 4,200-sq.-ft. center, Walgreens employees and their immediate family members will have access to a primary care physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, register nurse and wellness specialist.

Employees on the Walgreens insurance plan will pay a $5 co-pay. A separate fee will apply to those employees who use the facility but are not on the company insurance plan, the Mt. Vernon Register-News reported.

"Whether it's a work-related condition, routine medical checkup or an illness that arises, we're proud to offer our employees convenient access to on-site healthcare services and other beneficial wellness resources," Lucy Crane, Walgreens corporate medical officer and VP population health and productivity, was quoted as saying. "Walgreens is taking a proactive approach to encouraging good employee health and controlling medical costs, which is especially important as healthcare funding and related issues become a greater concern for business and their employees across the country."

Take Care Health Systems, which is part of the Walgreens health-and-wellness division, operates about 370 worksite health centers nationwide.