The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) has announced that it is working with pharmacy services provider Walgreens to better coordinate patient and pharmaceutical care for VA-enrolled patients.
VA officials noted that now, with the click of a button, VA providers will be able to see the entire medication and immunization history of VA-enrolled patients who receive their prescription and immunization needs at Walgreens.
As it continues to expand its community care program, VA has also refined its ability to track medication prescribed by community providers. Prior to the arrangement, VA providers would ask patients to inform them about medications filled at Walgreens. With the VA-Walgreens exchange, VA providers can now view medications directly that are prescribed to VA-enrolled patients by community providers and filled at Walgreens pharmacies.
This arrangement is the first of its kind and it’s a strong collaboration,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “Partnerships like this will help VA continue to improve the way we care for Veterans.”
VA exchanges standards-based medical information electronically with participating community healthcare partners, such as Walgreens, aiming to ensure the best possible care coordination and medication management, its officials say.
Currently, VA exchanges health information with over 170 community health care partners, representing 1,288 hospitals, 537 federally qualified health centers, 261 nursing homes, 8,649 pharmacies (including over 8,000 Walgreens pharmacies) and over 22,431 clinics.
For the past five years, VA and Walgreens have partnered to provide flu shots at no cost for enrolled Veterans, improving vaccination rates and access to immunizations.
