Walgreens, Novant Health to collaborate

Walgreens to acquire nine Novant Health retail pharmacies.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and Novant Health, a leading health care provider with 15 medical centers and more than 640 locations offering advanced medical treatments in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, announced a retail health clinical collaboration and services agreement, as well as a retail pharmacy-focused transaction. Walgreens will acquire nine of Novant Health’s retail pharmacies, while Novant Health will open new retail health care clinics at Walgreens stores in the Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Brunswick County, North Carolina, areas.

“Our customers have come to rely on their local Walgreens to provide accessible and convenient health care options,” said Dr. Chet Robson, Walgreens acting chief medical officer. “Our collaboration with Novant Health is a great example of how we’re integrating care and bringing a simplified health care experience to North Carolina residents.”

Once the pharmacy acquisition closes, Novant Health patients will be able to receive their prescriptions at the acquired Walgreens pharmacy locations or any neighborhood Walgreens stores. Novant Health will continue to operate specialty pharmacies.

“Novant Health is dedicated to making health care remarkable and this strategic partnership with Walgreens will allow us to make it even more convenient, affordable and accessible,” said Dr. Pam Oliver, executive vice president and president of Novant Health Physician Network. “Our new clinics at Walgreens will allow patients to avoid the emergency room by expanding access to quality care for minor illnesses and injuries, and create a new avenue for Novant Health to support and care for our patients with chronic conditions.”

The retail clinics, which will be branded “Novant Health Express at Walgreens” and staffed with Novant Health advanced practice clinicians (physician assistants and nurse practitioners), will provide patients in North Carolina with access to convenient and affordable health care for treating common illnesses and injuries, as well as services for chronic care follow-ups, with no appointment necessary.

The first locations are expected to open in the first half of 2020, with continued expansion in North Carolina over two years. The first three locations are expected to be on Fairview Road in Charlotte, N.C., on Stratford Road in Winston-Salem, N.C., and on Village Road in Leland, N.C.

The Novant Health Express at Walgreens retail clinics will operate seven days a week.