‘CareClinic’ will provide general public greater access to on-demand care in Ballard, Crossroads and University Village retail locations starting first quarter 2014
Northwest Icons – Group Health Cooperative and Bartell Drugs – Bring Retail Clinics to Washington State
<0> Group HealthEd Boyle, 206-448-4148Afterhours, 206-448-4056orBartell DrugsBarry Bartlett, 206-335-4694 </0>
Two longtime Seattle-based organizations – Group Health Cooperative and Bartell Drugs – today announced an innovative collaboration, bringing retail clinics to Seattle and Bellevue. These retail clinics will be staffed by health professionals from Group Health and provide busy individuals and families with an affordable, convenient place to turn for on-demand care of common minor illnesses and procedures.
Known as CareClinic: Group Health at Bartell Drugs™ (CareClinic)three clinics will open between mid-January and early March 2014 as part of a new offering serving Group Health members and the general public alike. They will be staffed by Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners from Group Health and will be available to adults and children over two years of age. The initial sites are:
“As consumers have increasing options for care, we’re also seeing increased demand for access that fits their lifestyles. Group Health and Bartell Drugs are uniquely positioned to meet that need,” said Scott Armstrong, president and CEO of Group Health Cooperative. “Since the CareClinics will accept almost all types of health coverage, this will be an opportunity for a broader range of consumers – not just Group Health members – to experience the high level of quality that Group Health is known and recognized for.”
Bartell Drugs Chairman and CEO George D. Bartell added, “The CareClinics reflect our shared vision and commitment to customer service, innovation, improving health and wellness and community collaborations. We see this as a continuation of Bartell Drugs vision to bring new products and services to our customers.”
The CareClinics will offer convenient, on-demand care for common minor illnesses and procedures, such as cold and flu, sinus infections, allergies, minor injuries (burns, rashes, and cuts), pinkeye, sore throat, headaches, head lice, ringworms, warts, sprains and strains, bronchitis, ear infections, urinary tract infections, diarrhea and intestinal infections. Customers will experience the convenience of receiving both in-store services as well as easy access to Bartell Drugs’ pharmacy and basic medical supplies without making an additional trip.
“In many situations proactively treating minor health conditions can reduce or eliminate a need for more extensive, expensive care,” said urgent care physician Wellesley Chapman, MD, who is medical director of Delivery System Innovation, Development and Business Services for Group Health. “In addition, we’re excited to be able to integrate patients’ electronic health records into the services provided at these clinics so we can support and manage all the care they receive over time.”
Based on the success of the initial CareClinics, Group Health and Bartell Drugs will assess whether to expand the collaboration to additional stores over time.
The two organizations, both founded and based in Seattle, bring together a collective history of serving the region for nearly 190 years.
For more information, visit after Jan. 1, 2014.
Since its founding more than 65 years ago, Group Health Cooperative has combined health plan coverage and health care delivery into a single collaborative organization focused on one goal – better health for its members. Group Health Cooperative is one of the country’s leading nonprofit health systems and has been nationally recognized for its innovative solutions for improving care. Group Health Cooperative, together with its subsidiaries Group Health Options, Inc. and KPS Health Plans, provides health coverage to more than 617,000 residents of Washington state and northern Idaho.
More than 394,000 members choose to receive care from Group Health Physicians medical group at Group Health Medical Center locations across the Puget Sound region and Spokane. Group Health advances health in the community through its medical education, charitable foundation, and nationally recognized research institute.
For more information about Group Health, visit and .
Founded in Seattle in 1890, Bartell Drugs owns and operates 62 locations in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Family owned and operated, it is the nation's oldest drugstore chain.
For more information about Bartell Drugs, visit .