Walgreens announced its Healthcare Clinics will soon transition to the Epic electronic health record platform, to improve care coordination among providers, while also supporting the long-term growth plan of its clinic business. The move to the new EHR, EpicCare, will begin in early calendar year 2016.
“This state-of-the-industry EHR will enable more seamless communication with health systems and local providers, and gives us enhanced capabilities to deliver better health outcomes through greater care coordination and interoperability,” says Patrick Carroll, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Walgreens’ Healthcare Clinics. “As our clinics play an increasingly important role in healthcare, supporting the healthcare system, provider practices and patients’ medical homes, care coordination can be critical. This will benefit our patients, clinic providers and partners, and serves as an instrumental part of our strategic growth plan.”
The platform will provide a number of benefits, including Care Everywhere – Epic’s EHR-based interoperability network. The largest in the U.S., it will connect with other healthcare organizations to securely share a patient’s medication list, assisting with medication reconciliation and review during Healthcare Clinic visits.
“As we continue to invest in our retail clinic business, it’s critical to have these best-in-class intelligence tools that support our commitment to patient care, and can help position Healthcare Clinics as a strategic partner of choice within the communities we serve,” says Jeff Koziel, Group Vice President, Walgreens’ Healthcare Clinics.
Walgreens manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic locations in the U.S., and currently utilizes its own proprietary EHR. Most clinics are open seven days a week, including extended evening and weekend hours.
