Advocate Health Care Opens Walgreens Clinic in Downers Grove

• Submitted by Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital.

Downers Grove, IL - Community leaders gathered at a Downers Grove Walgreens on May 18 for the grand opening of one of 56 locations of the Advocate Clinic at Walgreens.

The clinic is located in the Walgreens at 1000 Ogden Ave., just a short distance from Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. It expands access to high quality, affordable care options in a convenient neighborhood location.

“As a busy working mom in the community, I’m so thankful for Advocate to provide us with the opportunity with easy and affordable health care at Walgreens,” said Patty Wardlow of Downers Grove. “I know for certain I will be here with my busy family for ear infections, colds and the like. Having affordable, easy access to healthcare is a tremendous opportunity for all of us in Downers Grove.”

The clinics offer physicals, vaccinations and treatment for a range of common illnesses and injuries, including cold and flu, ear infections, strep throat, migraines, pink eye, rashes, bronchitis and upper respiratory infections, sprains, strains and more. Advocate Clinic at Walgreens will also be expanding care to children as young as six months of age by Jan. 1, 2017.

“Today is a significant milestone in Advocate’s nearly 25 year commitment to seeking innovative solutions to the health care delivery model and expanding access to quality care in the communities we are so privileged to serve,” said Dr. Lee Sacks, Advocate’s chief medical officer and executive vice president. “Advocate Clinic at Walgreens allows us to deliver the right care at the right time in the right setting to ensure high quality care at a lower cost for consumers.”

Most clinic locations are open from 9 am – 7 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am to 4 pm on weekends. Walk-ins and same-day appointment scheduling are available. As a way to deliver on its commitment to keep costs low for consumers, many clinic services are offered at a flat self-pay fee of $89, while the clinics will also accept the same broad insurances accepted across all of Advocate Medical Group.

The clinics are integrated with Advocate’s Electronic Health Record and billing systems for greater continuity of care and to help deliver a seamless patient experience. For example, as a part of the Advocate system, clinic patients will benefit from 24/7 connectivity via MyAdvocate portal with the option to schedule appointments, review medical records, receive test results, chat with physicians and refill prescriptions.

Staffed by board-certified nurse practitioners and medical assistants who are employed, trained and supervised by Advocate Medical Group, individuals do not need to be a current Advocate patient to receive care.

Advocate and Walgreens first announced in January 2016 that Advocate would operate the 56 health care clinics at Walgreens locations across the greater Chicagoland area in Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. For more information on Advocate Clinic at Walgreens, please visit advocateclinicatwalgreens.com.

Photo 1: Officials cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the new Advocate Clinic at Walgreens in Downers Grove Wednesday, May 18. Pictured from left are Dr. Rosa Perez; Patty Wardlow of Downers Grove; Christy Stanley and Beth Beranek, both of Advocate Medical Group; David S. Fox, president of Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital; Bill White, Downers Grove village council commissioner; and Darren Benton of Walgreens.

Photo 2: Rosa Perez, family medicine specialist with Advocate Medical Group, explains how the new Advocate Clinic at Walgreens will benefit the community.