Advocate Health Care will begin operating the 56 health care clinics at Walgreens stores across the greater Chicagoland area including several south side Chicago locations including 1554 E. 55th St. in Hyde Park and 11 E. 75th Street Chicago. Community leaders, health care officials, patients and physicians gathered to mark the opening of the clinics, branded as Advocate Clinic at Walgreens, which will expand access to high quality, affordable care options in convenient neighborhood locations.
“This is only the beginning,” said Jackie Whitten, chief nursing executive at Advocate Trinity Hospital, 2320 E. 93rd St. in Chicago. “We are here because we want to help our population become healthier and receive the great service that Advocate can offer. It’s an incredible opportunity and we are excited to be a part of working with Walgreens to expand access and improve outcomes and patient experience.”
The clinics offer physicals, vaccinations and treatment for a range of common illnesses and injuries, including cold and flu, ear infections, strep throat, migraines, pink eye, rashes, bronchitis and upper respiratory infections, sprains, strains and more. Advocate Clinic at Walgreens will also be expanding care to children as young as six months of age by January 1, 2017.
“Today is a significant milestone in Advocate’s nearly 25 year commitment to seeking innovative solutions to the health care delivery model and expanding access to quality care in the communities we are so privileged to serve,” said Lee Sacks, M.D., Advocate’s chief medical officer and executive vice president. “Advocate Clinic at Walgreens allows us to deliver the right care at the right time in the right setting to ensure high quality care at a lower cost for consumers.”
Most clinic locations are open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and on weekends from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Walk-ins and same-day appointment scheduling are available. As a way to deliver on its commitment to keep costs low for consumers, many clinic services are offered at a flat self-pay fee of $89, while the clinics will also accept the same broad insurances accepted across all of Advocate Medical Group.
The clinics will be integrated with Advocate’s Electronic Health Record and billing systems for greater continuity of care and to help deliver a seamless patient experience. For example, as a part of the Advocate system, clinic patients will benefit from 24/7 connectivity via MyAdvocate portal with the option to schedule appointments, review medical records, receive test results, chat with physicians and refill prescriptions.
Staffed by board-certified nurse practitioners and medical assistants who are employed, trained and supervised by Advocate Medical Group, individuals do not need to be a current Advocate patient to receive care.
Advocate and Walgreens first announced in January 2016 that Advocate would operate the 56 health care clinics at Walgreens locations across the greater Chicagoland area in Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. For more information on Advocate Clinic at Walgreens, visit www.advocateclinicatwalgreens.com.
