Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy Awarded ACHC Accreditation
Walgreens announced its award of accreditation status for Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, part of its managed care division, by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC). Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy locations in Beaverton, Ore., Glenview, Ill., Livingston, N.J., and the Customer Care Center in Orlando, Fla., join already-accredited acquisitions, Medmark in Pittsburgh, Pa., and OptionCare in Ann Arbor, Mich.
"We are pleased that Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy is being awarded ACHC accreditation," said Michael Nameth, executive vice president, Walgreens Health Services. "It shows payors, patients and prescribers that our focus on high-quality clinical programs and services is more than just words. They can depend on us to consistently provide the highest standard of operational, clinical and therapeutic excellence focused on complex and chronic health conditions."
ACHC, a private, nonprofit corporation certified to ISO 9001:2000 standards, was developed by home care and community-based providers to help companies improve business operations and the quality of patient care. Accreditation is a voluntary activity in which healthcare organizations submit to peer review of internal policies, processes and patient care against national standards. By attaining accreditation, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy has demonstrated a commitment to maintain a higher level of excellence in products and services.
As the largest independent provider of specialty pharmacy services and fourth-largest specialty pharmacy in the nation, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy offers comprehensive programs and patient management services to those who use specialty medications for chronic and complex health conditions, including cancer, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and others. Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy provides members with medication fulfillment, patient education and clinical support services. Its pharmacists and nurses also counsel patients on the importance of medication adherence and side-effect management.
Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreen Co. operated by its managed care division, Walgreens Health Services, is a national provider of injectable and biopharmaceutical medications dedicated to serving the needs of patients living with complex, chronic health and medical conditions. Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy provides personalized care and services through dedicated fulfillment centers across the country and more than 6,300 electronically linked Walgreens pharmacies, including locations in academic medical centers, community hospitals and physician office buildings. Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy assists patients in obtaining medications, coordinates insurance benefits and provides individualized therapy management and clinical support.
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2008 sales of $59 billion. The company operates 6,544 drugstores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and cost-effective health care services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. In addition to specialty pharmacy services, 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. and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems, which is comprised of: Take Care Consumer Solutions, managers of 273 convenient care clinics at Walgreens drugstores, and Take Care Employer Solutions, managers of worksite-based health and wellness services at 366 employer campuses.
SOURCE: Walgreens