Walgreens Set To Open Primary Care Clinics In Houston

Medical Services As Pharmacies' Secret Weapon?

Walgreens and VillageMD, a leading national provider of primary healthcare, have announced a partnership to provide primary care services for adult patients in the Houston, Texas area.

VillageMD will operate state-of-the-art primary care clinics next to five Walgreens stores in the Houston area, with the first locations scheduled to open by the end of this year.

The 2,500 square-foot clinics, branded “Village Medical at Walgreens,” will provide comprehensive primary care services, integrated with pharmacists, nurses and social workers to meet all patient needs.

“This collaboration with VillageMD demonstrates our ongoing commitment to create neighborhood health destinations that bring affordable health care services to customers and provide a differentiated patient experience to the communities we serve,” Pat Carroll, M.D., Walgreens chief medical officer and group vice president, healthcare services and clinical programs, said in a press release.

The clinic patients will utilize VillageMD’s patent-pending docOS system, which integrates data and technology to identify missing diagnoses and gaps in health so that doctors and patients can better manage chronic health conditions. The technology includes easy and convenient check in by phone or kiosk, home-based monitoring and tele-medicine.

“VillageMD has a strong track record nationally of improving outcomes and reducing the cost of healthcare through their transformative primary care model. With more than 120 primary care physicians in their medical group in Houston, we look forward to working with them as we focus on the health and well-being of the community,” added Carroll.

A leading healthcare provider for organizations, VillageMD has more than 2,500 physicians across eight markets, and is responsible for approximately 500,000 lives and $2.8 billion in healthcare spending.

“The integration of primary care and pharmacy is yet another example of the value-based commitment that Walgreens and VillageMD demonstrate to customers, patients and the broader healthcare landscape,” said Tim Barry, CEO of VillageMD. “We are honored to collaborate with such a trusted partner in the lives of so many Americans.”