An east Vancouver Walgreens store will be among the first of two dozen stores in the Northwest to open a retail health clinic.
Walgreens and Providence Health & Services announced Thursday a collaboration to bring up to 25 new retail clinics to Oregon and Washington. Providence providers will staff the clinics and treat common illnesses and injuries.
The first six retail clinics are scheduled to open early next year. Three clinics will open in the Seattle area under the name Swedish Express Care at Walgreens, and three Providence Express Care at Walgreens clinics will open in the Portland metro area, including the east Vancouver store, 1905 S.E. 164th Ave.
“Accessing quality health care should be convenient and simple,” said Mike Waters, senior vice president of physician services at Providence, in a news release. “We believe this collaboration is a solution for health care providers to better serve populations. With Walgreens’ nationwide footprint and deep understanding of patients’ needs, together we can ease the way for consumers and ultimately, create healthier communities.”
The clinics will operate extended hours seven days a week and will allow for walk-ins and same-day scheduling. Providers at the clinics will treat common conditions, such as head colds, chest colds, minor sprains and strains, and infections.
The Providence electronic health record platform will connect directly to the clinics, allowing providers to coordinate between visits.
“This is a reflection of our efforts to develop deeper and more strategic relationships with our health system partners,” said Jeff Koziel, Walgreens group vice president for Healthcare Clinics, in a news release. “Collaboration among providers is key in today’s health care environment, to help ensure continuity of patient care and to provide greater convenience and access for patients.”
Medicaid accepted
The clinics are not limited to Providence patients, but they likely will follow the same policies and contracts as Providence Health & Services, including accepting Medicaid and providing financial assistance to those who need it, Providence spokesman Gary Walker said.
The other clinics set to open in the metro area next year are in Beaverton, Ore., 7280 S.W. Beaverton Hillsdale Highway, and Milwaukie, Ore., 14617 S.E. McLoughlin Blvd. The remainder of the 19 sites in the Northwest have not yet been determined.
The clinics will be owned and operated by Providence and its affiliates.
