The National Local Care Paradox
For years now, healthcare integration has been a major theme in discussions of the US healthcare system. But this year at HLTH VRTL 2020, there was a new spin: how to bring local orientation to nationally integrated systems. It may sound paradoxical, but a few pharmacy systems shared how they intend to make it work.
Walgreens wants to lean into the public’s trust in pharmacists and localize care by teaming up with VillageMD, a primary care provider organization, to put a PCP next door to more than 500 of their pharmacy locations, creating what they call “trusted care nodes”. While the model will be standard across locations, the objective is personalized care. The clinics will provide what patient’s want – “more convenient, cost-effective care options” – which will be provided by allowing a patient’s primary care physician to directly coordinate with the pharmacist next door.
Rite Aid is also bringing physicians “in house” by creating virtual care rooms where consumers can remotely access their personal care teams. As part of a larger, consumer-centric upgrade, Rite Aid is making their pharmacists more accessible so that they more easily fulfil the role of advisor, able to influence consumers’ everyday choices and behaviors. For example, they can inform consumers about non-medical treatment options, and bring physicians into the discussion as needed. This has the added benefit of making virtual care more approachable to more people, while the location – in a physical pharmacy – allows patients to fill prescriptions and make other necessary purchases, offering a level of convenience that virtual care alone cannot.
The timing may be right for pharmacies to assume a more central role as the US embarks on a massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign – they have both the experience and the trust of patients, and are located almost everywhere that people live.
Employers are interested in these developments because improved care coordination and support for health decisions should improve member outcomes. In addition, these models can act as a template for employers that want to take advantage of regional strengths in healthcare markets, even if they keep their benefits uniform. As multi-location employers know too well, the ability to access quality care can vary greatly from one location to the next. This new model enables provider teams -- while still being part of a large, integrated system -- to personalize the care that person receives, in a familiar, trusted setting, wherever they may live.
We are excited to watch these national, local care initiatives take off. If you’re interested in ways to localize your national health program, let’s talk.