Walgreens receives Medical Home accreditation

Many of the primary care worksite health centers managed by Walgreens Employer Solutions Group have received Medical Home accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), the company recently announced. By the middle of 2013, the company says all of its employer-based primary care centers will be accredited.

The accreditation recognizes that each of the worksite health centers complies with clinical, quality, and organizational standards established by AAAHC for patient-centered medical homes.

“This accreditation recognizes that worksite clinics and these primary care worksites can be a key point of access, serving as a medical home to provide coordinated care to patients and clients,” the company said.

More employers are exploring on-site health and wellness services to keep workers healthy, productive, and on the job, according to a 2012 survey by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health.

According to the report, many employers feel that these on-site services have a direct impact on employee productivity by decreasing the travel and wait times associated with visits to primary care physicians. In addition, many employers are expanding this access to spouses and dependents, which signifies the perceived value of these on-site clinics, the report notes.

“We’re proud to have received accreditation from AAAHC, an organization that shares our commitment to ensuring healthcare delivery meets the highest quality standards and is coordinated across the healthcare spectrum, benefitting both employers and employees,” said Trent Riley, divisional vice president for Walgreens Health and Wellness division.

–Heather Onorati, Contributing Editor