Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) has announced Quality Independent
Physicians, based in Louisville, as the latest healthcare provider to
join its Rite Aid Health Alliance initiative. Through Rite Aid Health
Alliance, physicians, Rite Aid pharmacists and special care coaches
provide comprehensive care and support to individuals with chronic and
poly-chronic health conditions, helping them achieve health improvement
goals established by their physicians.
“Our Rite Aid Health Alliance program brings a collaborative approach to
patient care, as physicians, care coaches and pharmacists work together
to improve the health and wellbeing of patients,” said Robert Thompson,
Rite Aid executive vice president of pharmacy. “Quality Independent
Physicians is our seventh Rite Aid Health Alliance partner and we look
forward to partnering with them as we bring a broad range of services to
their patients in Lexington, Louisville and Southern Indiana.”
Rite Aid’s Health Alliance integrated care model is a first for the
drugstore industry, because it uniquely leverages the combined expertise
of community pharmacists, who are one of the most accessible and trusted
resources among healthcare providers, along with specially trained
in-store care coaches. Physicians can refer patients who they feel would
benefit from additional coaching in areas such as medication management
and meal and exercise planning. All members of the care team will
communicate regularly with physicians in a true partnership to improve
patients’ overall health.
“The ultimate goal of medical care is to educate and motivate patients
to change and improve their health. The more avenues we can provide our
patients to reinforce the same message, the more positive outcomes we
will have,” said Dr. Michael Harper, Quality Independent Physicians
Medical Director and practicing physician at Sellersburg Internal
Medicine and Pediatrics. “Rite Aid Health Alliance will be a great
resource for our practices to complement the health care plan created by
our physicians and I am confident that this program will lead to
better-informed patients with greater ability to achieve their
healthcare goals.”
Through Rite Aid Health Alliance, patients with chronic conditions, such
as congestive heart failure, COPD, high cholesterol and diabetes, are
recommended to the program by their primary care physician. Rite Aid
pharmacists and specially trained care coaches, located in Rite Aid
pharmacies, work with the physician and patient on an on-going basis to
improve the patient’s overall health and self-management abilities. The
care team members collaborate with the patient to establish health
goals, eliminate barriers and create a personalized health care action
plan in coordination with the patient’s physician.
Rite Aid previously announced that it is piloting Rite Aid Health
Alliance partnerships with High Point, N.C.-based Cornerstone Health
Care; Glendale, Calif.-based Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc.
(“ApolloMed”); Greater Buffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network of
Buffalo, N.Y.; Penn State Hershey Health System of Hershey, Pa.;
Heritage Provider Network based in Marina Del Rey, Calif.; and Physician
Direct ACO of Sylvan Lake, Mich.
In these markets at select Rite Aid pharmacies, Rite Aid provides the
care coaches on the team through its wholly owned subsidiary Health
Dialog, a leading provider of healthcare patient support, analytics and
decision support. Health Dialog coaches will be available in Rite Aid
pharmacies, and specialize in behavior change to help patients address
lifestyle health issues.
The full range of services available to patients participating in Rite
Aid Health Alliance includes medication compliance support;
comprehensive medication reviews and reconciliation; nutrition and
weight management information; disease education; exercise coaching and
tobacco cessation support. Records of all interactions, which occur in
Rite Aid pharmacies, as well as updates from the physician, are stored
electronically, along with patient profiles including medications and
lab results. This supports continuity of care and provides convenient
access of information to other members of the patient’s healthcare team.
Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains
with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and
fiscal 2014 annual revenues of $25.5 billion. Information about Rite
Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available
through the company's website at www.riteaid.com.
Quality Independent Physicians Medicare Shared Savings Accountable Care
Organization is led by 45+ Louisville, Lexington and Southern Indiana
independent primary care physicians to deliver high-quality care and
meet patients' unique individual health care needs. Quality Independent
Physicians primary care leaders share the same philosophical goals in
the healthcare setting and strive to provide patients with a more
positive health care experience. These physician leaders also work
together and with other community healthcare providers to reduce excess
healthcare dollar waste, such as with duplicative testing. More
information regarding Quality Independent Physicians can be found at www.qipllc.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014