Walgreens to switch to Epic health record platform at its clinics

Walgreens recently said it will begin implementing Epic System's electric health record (EHR) platform across its more than 400 in-store health care clinics around the nation early next year.

The EpicCare system will replace Walgreen's proprietary EHR system and give the drugstore chain the ability to connect with health care organizations in order to share a patient's medication information in a secure manner, and help with medication reconciliation and review during clinic visits.

“As we continue to invest in our retail clinic business, it’s critical to have these best-in-class intelligence tools that support our commitment to patient care and can help position Healthcare Clinics as a strategic partner of choice within the communities we serve,” Walgreens Healthcare Clinics  Group Vice President Jeff Koziel said.

Walgreen's in-store clinics are generally open seven days a week with no appointment necessary. The clinics offer a variety of health care services for individuals at least 18 months old. The majority of patients using these clinics are covered by insurance.

Walgreen's transition to Epic's EHR platform is expected to strengthen communication, care coordination and interoperability among local providers and health systems

“As our clinics play an increasingly important role in health care, supporting the health care system, provider practices and patients’ medical homes, care coordination can be critical," Healthcare Clinics Chief Medical Officer Patrick Carroll said. "This will benefit our patients, clinic providers and partners, and serves as an instrumental part of our strategic growth plan."