Kinney Drugs opens Healthy You Wellness Center
GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. and SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Regional player Kinney Drugs has teamed up with Pulmonary Health Physicians, PC and Franciscan Companies (an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Hospital) to open the Healthy You Wellness Center at a Kinney Drugs location in Syracuse.
“Access to convenient and affordable health care is a growing concern for the communities that we serve. We expect this problem to only worsen as millions of more patients gain medical coverage under the Affordable Care Act without a corresponding increase of medical providers available to treat them,” stated Mike Duteau, VP of business development and strategic relations for Kinney Drugs. “The Healthy You Wellness Center at Kinney Drugs is a collaborative effort designed to address the need for greater access to affordable health services in the Syracuse market, bridging the gaps in care coordination among health care providers and ultimately resulting in improved quality of care and health outcomes. As the premier provider of pharmacy health care services in our communities, the health and well-being of our patients is our top priority.”
Staffed by specialists from Pulmonary Health Physicians, PC, Healthy You Wellness Center will focus on disease state management as well as immediate care for certain health concerns. Services include assessment, treatment and management of chronic conditions such as COPD, emphysema, bronchitis and asthma, as well as diagnosis and treatment of illnesses such as the common cold, flu, allergies and sinus infections. The wellness center will also provide counseling for patients with sleep apnea and questions regarding smoking cessation options as well as oxygen therapy.
In addition, patients discharged from a hospital stay for respiratory complications will now have the option to receive follow-up care within three days of their discharge at the Healthy You Wellness Center. The pulmonary specialists at the center will work directly with the hospital and the Primary Care provider to help support patients on their path to better health and avoid preventable hospital readmissions.
"Developing a clinical relationship with a health care team like Pulmonary Health Physicians, PC, is an important step forward in improving access to quality healthcare," added Jim Spencer, president of Kinney Drugs stores. “Together our pharmacy and the Healthy You Wellness Center are advancing community pharmacy by providing an environment for coordinated health care, and helping more people improve their health and wellness.”
Services offered by Kinney Drugs such as free prescription delivery, ReadyScripts automatic refill program, and immunizations are also part of the overall care available to all Healthy You Wellness Center patients. Kinney Drugs has also implemented an expanded selection of durable medical equipment and sleep apnea supplies to further support the needs of this patient population.