Walgreens Addressing Health Disparities in Underserved Chicago Communities

New community-focused pharmacy and health care initiatives are being implemented by Walgreens in Chicago, Illinois, to address health disparities and improve outcomes beginning in underserved neighborhoods on the South Side.

“Improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve guides everything we do, and we know there is great need, as well as opportunity, to assist the patients we serve on their journey to better health,” said John Standley, Walgreens president, in a press release. “By learning more about the particular health needs in these areas and tailoring our pharmacy services to help address them, we can continue to make an impact as part of our commitment to Chicago, and with pharmacists our customers know and trust.”

Walgreens is working to expand access to affordable care and educational outreach to further support the city of Chicago’s health equity objectives, according to the press release.

Further, Walgreens has started to bring health service offerings to Chatham on the South Side of the city, including the following initiatives:

• Diabetes outreach, where pharmacists are prioritizing high-touch consultations for those living with diabetes to personalize solutions, address any barriers to taking medications and making recommendations for health screenings and immunizations.
• Pediatric asthma outreach and education, where pharmacists are conducting outreach to parents and guardians of children with asthma to provide education on the importance and proper use of asthma medications, review adverse effects, discuss asthma triggers, and provide action plans in collaboration with health care providers as needed.
• Flu clinics, with flu shots provided at no cost through initiatives with health insurers, the Illinois Department of Public Health, local community groups and churches in Little Village, Chatham, Gresham, Englewood, Bronzeville, Austin, and Roseland.
• Health screenings, sponsored by the First Ladies Health Initiative, working with African American church leaders and pastors’ wives to provide thousands of free health screenings, including blood pressure, blood glucose, HIV screenings, and immunizations.
• Chronic disease, where Walgreens is supporting the American Heart Association’s efforts to eliminate health disparities and the life expectancy gap between Chicago neighborhoods.
• Affordable access to medications through the expansion of the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club, which provides savings up to 80% off of more than 8000 medicines to members.

In addition to these new initiatives, Walgreens has extended its offering of free prescription delivery for 1- to 2-day deliveries through the end of 2020.

REFERENCE

Walgreens addressing health disparities in Chicago’s Underserved Communities with New Pharmacy and Healthcare Initiatives. Walgreens Newsroom. https://news.walgreens.com/covid-19/press-releases-1/walgreens-addressing-health-disparities-in-chicagos-underserved-communities-with-new-pharmacy-and-healthcare-initiatives.htm?view_id=8541. Published October 7, 2020. Accessed October 9, 2020.