Walgreens Takes Leading Role in Experimental Delivery Models

As health care delivery models are transforming, laboratories are watching a number of emerging trends, including the establishment of accountable care organizations (ACOs) and the growing interest in the retailization of health care, as they try to figure out their role in this evolving landscape. Laboratories can gain some beneficial insight in transformation of traditional roles from pharmacy giant Walgreens (Deerfield, Ill.), which has announced participation in several dynamic partnerships. Most talked about in the laboratory industry is the pharmacy’s fall 2013 announcement of its partnership with Theranos (Palo Alto, Calif.) to bring convenient, affordable laboratory testing to Walgreens stores nationwide. Walgreens also became the first pharmacy to form ACOs with three large physicians groups in Texas, Florida, and New Jersey. Through these ACOs, pharmacists will play an integral role in coordinating care with clinical teams by monitoring medication adherence, primary prevention and screening, and minor episodic care through in-store clinics. As laboratories explore the value they can bring to stakeholders along the care continuum and address the need to deliver patient-centric care, Walgreens can serve as an example for expansion of traditional delivery roles. For more information on Walgreens’ partnership with Theranos, please see Inside the Diagnostics Industry on page 5. For more information on how laboratories can address consumerism, see the Special Focus section on page 8.