Take Care Health Systems Receives Seal of Approval from Jefferson School of Population Health

The Jefferson School of Population Health has completed an official certification for the Convenient Care Industry (CCA), Take Care Health Systems announced today. Take Care Health Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens and the largest and most comprehensive provider of convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers in the country, received full certification for its in-store clinics with exceptional performance noted in the areas of quality monitoring, quality of care, patient referrals to primary care providers and usage of electronic medical records.

This certification process marks the first time that a national third-party health care leader of Jefferson’s expertise has confirmed that CCA members are meeting the retail-health industry’s 10 quality and safety standards. In addition to its academic programs, the Jefferson School of Population Health is recognized for academic research, continuing professional education and research and consulting services.

"The convenient care clinic industry continues to break new ground in the areas of health care access, quality of care and medical record technology,” said David B. Nash, MD, MBA, dean of the Jefferson School of Population Health. "I believe this certification will allow for continued innovation, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for the entire population.”

The CCA’s Board of Directors adopted 10 Quality and Safety Standards in March 2007 with input from national medical, nursing and accrediting organizations, as well as its Clinical Advisory Board. The Association contracted with the Jefferson School of Population Health to administer the member certification program because of its expertise in the evaluation of health policies and systems that improve the health of populations.

"This is the final step in formalizing standards Take Care Health Systems have aligned with for two years,” said Hal Rosenbluth, president, Walgreens Health and Wellness Division; chairman, Take Care Health Systems and inaugural president of the CCA. "Since day one, it has been our goal to provide the highest-quality of patient care possible. We’re extremely proud of the certification from an institution as prominent as Jefferson.”

Certification focused on the existence of written policies and procedures that conform to CCA’s strict standards for quality and safety. Ongoing certification processes will continue to verify the implementation and execution of these policies.

As part of the certification, Convenient Care Operators must meet the following 10 Quality and Safety Standards:

1. All providers will be thoroughly credentialed for license, training and experience, with rigorous background checks to verify training and licensing.

2. All CCA Members are committed to monitoring quality on an ongoing basis, including but not limited to:

• peer review;
• collaborating physician review;
• use of evidence-based guidelines;
• collecting aggregate data on selected quality and safety outcomes;
• collecting patient satisfaction data.

3. All CCA Members build relationships with traditional health care providers and hospitals, and work towards a goal of using EHRs to share patient information and ensure continuity of care.

4. All CCA Members are committed to encouraging patients to establish a relationship with a primary care provider, and to making appropriate and careful referrals for follow-on care and for conditions that are outside of the scope of the clinic’s services.

5. All CCA Members are in compliance with applicable OSHA, CLIA, HIPAA, and ADA standards. All CCA Members follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for infection control through hand washing.

6. All CCA Members provide health promotion and disease prevention education to patients. All CCA Members provide written instructions and educational materials to patients upon leaving the clinic.

7. All CCA Members use Electronic Health Records (EHR) to ensure high-quality efficient care. All CCA Members are committed to providing all patients with the opportunity to share health information with other providers electronically or in paper format.

8. All CCA Members provide an environment conducive to quality patient care and meet standards for infection control and safety.

9. All CCA Members will establish emergency response procedures and develop relationships with local emergency response service providers to ensure that patients in need of emergency care can be transported to an appropriate setting as quickly as possible.

10. CCA Members empower patients to make informed choices about their health care. Prices for services provided at Convenient Care Clinics are readily available in a visible place outside of the examination room. Providers discuss what impact, if any, the provision of additional services will have on the ultimate cost to the patient.

Included in The Convenient Care Association’s Quality and Safety Standards are ongoing monitoring of clinic quality standards. Take Care Health has built an unprecedented quality review program with innovative utilization of networked Electronic Medical Records (EMR) at its Take Care Clinics. EMRs enable the rapid tracking and analysis of nationwide health data unlike more traditional remote computer systems or paper records.

"This certification reflects the industry’s continual commitment to providing the highest quality of care for patients across the country, particularly through a focus on innovative new medical technologies such as EMRs,” added Sandra Ryan, chief nurse practitioner officer for Take Care Health Systems and CCA Clinical Advisory Board chair. "For example, utilizing our EMR system, Take Care Health has built a national electronic network between our convenient care clinics to track quality, trend data and help increase outcomes by providing information to continually enhance our programs.

Take Care Health has treated more than one million patients since opening its first clinic in November 2005, and has aligned with CCA guidelines since they were adopted in March 2007. Recent Gallup surveys indicate that patients are thrilled with the Take Care Clinic experience, with results illustrating a 92 percent overall patient satisfaction rate.

Take Care Health Systems currently manages 328 Take Care Clinics in 35 markets and 19 states.

About Take Care Health Systems

Take Care Health Systems (www.takecarehealthsystem.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens and part of Walgreens Health and Wellness division, is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and convenient care clinics in the country. TCHS is comprised of Take Care Consumer Solutions (www.takecarehealth.com) and Take Care Health Employer Solutions (www.takecareemployersolutions.com). Take Care Consumer Solutions manages Take Care Clinics at select Walgreens drugstores throughout the country. Patient care at each of the Take Care Clinics is provided by Take Care Health Services, an independently owned state professional corporation established in each market. Take Care Health Employer Solutions manages primary care, health and wellness, occupational health, pharmacy and fitness centers at large employer campuses. Combined, Take Care Health Systems manages nearly 700 worksite and retail health care centers.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2008 sales of $59 billion. The company operates 6,658 drugstores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and services and cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems (www.takecarehealthsystem.com), the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with nearly 700 locations throughout the country.