Walgreens, VillageMD to open clinics in Massachusetts
Walgreens Boots Alliance and VillageMD are forging ahead with their plans for expansion.
The latest goal for the companies is to open more than 10 new Village Medical at Walgreens primary care practices in Massachusetts by the beginning of 2023. The first location is expected to open this May in Quincy followed by locations across the state including locations in the Boston area.
“VillageMD and Walgreens are working together to increase access to high-quality primary care coordinated with convenient pharmacy services across the nation,” said John Torontow, national medical director of Village Medical. “Our model empowers our experienced physicians and pharmacists to focus on comprehensive patient care, which results in better health for our patients and communities.”
[Read more: Walgreens making major investment in VillageMD]
Village Medical at Walgreens primary care practices in Massachusetts will create more than 350 full-time jobs in the Commonwealth and directly employ more than 150 STEM professionals, such as physicians, nurse practitioners and medical assistants.
Physicians and pharmacists are supported with high-tech tools, optimized electronic medical records and reduced administrative tasks, empowering them to focus on providing patient care and achieving positive health outcomes, the company said.
“People need a new solution to take the place of the time-consuming, confusing and expensive healthcare experience many of them live with today,” said Kevin McMurray, healthcare supervisor for Walgreens in the Boston area. “Walgreens and VillageMD are leveraging our combined expertise in primary care and pharmacy to make health care easier.”
Based on 2018 data, more than 40% of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years old and older in Massachusetts had four or more chronic conditions which require ongoing medical attention. Village Medical physicians and Walgreens pharmacy team members work together to provide expert care for chronic conditions, as well as everyday illnesses and injuries. Physicians and pharmacists collaborate closely to fill prescriptions immediately following medical visits, often at the same location if they choose to do so and ensure patients have ongoing access to care and medical expertise, the companies said.
[Read more: Walgreens, VillageMD to open clinics in New Hampshire]
With the Massachusetts openings, VillageMD and Walgreens will have opened more than 100 practices across 13 markets, including Arizona, Florida, Texas, Kentucky and Indiana. The companies are on track to open more than 200 practices by the end of 2022.
Walgreens Boots Alliance recently announced an increased investment in VillageMD to advance its strategic position in the delivery of value-based primary care. This investment will accelerate the opening of more than 600 Village Medical at Walgreens primary care practices in more than 30 U.S. markets by 2025 and 1,000 by 2027, with more than half of those practices in medically underserved communities.
Village Medical at Walgreens practices accept a wide range of health insurance including Medicaid and Medicare in participating markets, and patients may access care and support through in-person, at-home and telehealth visits.