Take Care Health Systems teams up with Ochsner Health System
NEW ORLEANS — Take Care Health Systems on Thursday announced a new relationship with Ochsner Health System that is expected to increase opportunities for clinical collaboration and improve patient access to high-quality, convenient and affordable healthcare options in the greater New Orleans area.
"With tens of millions of Americans poised to gain access to health insurance through reform, it's critical that innovators and leaders in health care identify the most efficient and effective ways for patients to access high-quality healthcare services," stated Heather Helle, divisional VP for Walgreens Consumer Solutions Group at Walgreens. "Relationships with healthcare innovators, such as Ochsner Health System, will make accessing care simpler and easier for patients while providing relief to the already overtaxed healthcare system. Walgreens has and will continue to join forces with healthcare leaders who strive to offer accessible, quality care for patients."
"Our exploration of Take Care Health [Systems] and the quality of care that is provided in Take Care Clinics has clearly shown that we can offer patients one more option as they seek access to affordable and convenient healthcare services,” stated Warner Thomas, president and COO of Ochsner Health System.
The enhanced relationship between Walgreens' Take Care Health Systems and Ochsner will promote information sharing on Take Care Clinics and other healthcare options when Ochsner care settings are closed or unable to schedule an appointment within a patient's desired timeframe. Professionals at the Ochsner on-call nurse system and with the health system's scheduling group will have access to information on Take Care Clinic locations, evening and weekend hours, and services available to patients and their families.
Providers at Take Care Clinics will have information available to educate patients on Ochsner Clinics and healthcare services and will continue to provide patient information on a variety of healthcare resources as appropriate. If a patient at a Take Care Clinic requires care that falls outside of the setting's scope of service, Take Care Clinic providers can quickly offer the patient a copy of their visit records to share with other providers at Ochsner or other healthcare facilities.
Research conducted by the Jefferson School of Population Health and published in the American Journal of Medical Quality in September 2010 showed that the quality of care delivered in Take Care Clinics for treatment of pharyngitis and upper respiratory infections met or exceeded the quality of care delivered in other settings. Additionally, Gallup research published in August 2010 in Retail Clinician on patient engagement at Take Care Health Systems showed that the Take Care Clinics received the highest satisfaction ratings from more than 9-out-of-every-10 patients, compared with the typical company in Gallup's database that receives the highest satisfaction from just 1-in-every-3 customers.