In support of the more than 1.1 million people living with HIV in the
U.S., Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) is collaborating with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and evaluate
a model of HIV patient-centered care through a national project aimed at
advancing clinical integration and medication therapy management. The
program is another way Walgreens is extending its commitment to improve
HIV prevention and treatment outcomes.
Walgreens is leveraging the expertise of its more than 700
HIV-specialized pharmacies and specially trained pharmacists to lead
medication care plans and provide data evaluation and outcomes reporting
for 1,000 HIV positive project participants. Walgreens pharmacists, who
routinely provide pharmacy care and treatment for people living with
HIV, will meet one-on-one with project participants to create care plans
that focus on medication adherence and address other needs including
health education for added chronic conditions.
“Our approach to improving HIV prevention and treatment is
individualized care focused on the holistic needs of patients,” said
Glen Pietrandoni, senior manager, virology, Walgreens. “Beyond
dispensing medication, our pharmacists are trained to provide testing,
confidential wellness consultations, coordinate care and benefits with
physicians and insurance providers, and to help patients access
financial support programs to reduce medication costs. However,
medication adherence remains our primary objective because we know that
taking the right medication at the right time is key to improving health
outcomes.”
A Walgreens study of more than 15,000 HIV patients showed that those who
received care through one of its HIV-specialized pharmacies, with
expert-level trained pharmacists, were significantly more adherent to
their medication (74 percent) than those receiving care through a
traditional, non-specialized Walgreens pharmacy (69 percent).1 Adherent
HIV patients are more likely to achieve improved health outcomes and
suppressed viral loads, which make the virus less likely to be
transmittable. 1 However, the CDC estimates only 25 percent
of Americans with HIV have the virus under control.2
Walgreens collaboration with the CDC supports the goals the National
HIV/AIDS Strategy and underscores its commitment to support communities
affected by HIV/AIDS. Its HIV-specialized pharmacies continue to
cooperate with local health departments and AIDS service organizations
to support HIV testing and community events, and work with local health
care providers, government leaders and religious organizations to
continually assess and meet the needs of individuals in select
communities throughout the U.S.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2013 sales of $72
billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
vision is to be the first choice in health and daily living for everyone
in America, and beyond. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million
customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and
services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness
services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of
pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility
and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services
improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers,
managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers
and the public sector. The company operates 8,197 drugstores in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the
largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness
centers, provider practices, and in-store convenient care clinics, with
more than 750 locations throughout the country.
1. Murphy P, Cocohoba J, Tang M, et al. Impact of HIV-specialized
pharmacies on adherence and persistence with antiretroviral therapy. AIDS
PatientCare and STDs, Volume 26, Number 9, 2012.
2. Hall HI, Frazier EL, Rhodes P, et al. Differences
in human immunodeficiency virus care and treatment among subpopulations
in the United States. JAMA Intern Med. 2013 Jul 22;173(14):1337-44.
doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.6841.
Copyright Business Wire 2013