More clinics are in works at Rite Aid

Chain Drug Review, April 28, 2008

CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp., MedStar Health and Consumer Health Services Inc. have teamed up to launch MedStar PromptCare walk-in health clinics inside select Rite Aid stores.

MedStar is the mid-Atlantic's largest hospital and health care provider, while Consumer Health Services is a manager of on-site physician-staffed health clinics.

The clinics will open this summer at four locations in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas.

Under the agreement MedStar Health will provide clinical oversight and ensure access to necessary follow-up specialty and acute medical services for the clinics.

The partnership will provide patients with convenient, high-quality medical care without an appointment.

The care is integrated with MedStar Health-affiliated physicians to provide treatment for most commonly occurring ailments.

MedStar PromptCare physicians will have credentials from and have admitting privileges to MedStar Health's hospitals, providing patients the opportunity for greater access to specialists at some of the region's top health care facilities.

"This partnership is an evolution of the retail health care delivery system," says Christine Swearingen, senior vice president for corporate strategy and business development at MedStar Health.

For his part, Rite Aid executive vice president of pharmacy services Mark de Bruin says MedStar PromptCare clinics will provide the retailer's customers and community with accessible, high-quality medical care in a convenient setting.

"These in-store health clinics offer services that complement the medication counseling and care provided by our pharmacists," he points out.