New Service Available at Take Care Clinics Nationwide, Giving Patients High-Quality, Convenient and Affordable Access to a Common Breathing Treatment

Take Care Health Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) and the largest and most comprehensive provider of convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers in the country, is now offering nebulizer treatments, when clinically appropriate, for clinic patients exhibiting acute respiratory distress.

The expansion of services to include nebulizer treatments comes as a direct response to conversations and integration with the medical community, patient and provider feedback and demonstrated market need. According to National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care surveys, “diseases of the respiratory system” were the third largest primary diagnosis among visits to the emergency room in 2005 and 2006, comprising 2.8% and 3.1% of all ER visits respectively.

“Take Care health professionals routinely evaluate and treat patients with respiratory symptoms including wheezing, coughing and other symptoms that could be related to bronchitis, asthma exacerbations or other respiratory illnesses,” said Sandra Ryan, RN, MSN, CPNP, FAANP and chief nurse practitioner officer for Take Care Health Systems. “Offering nebulizer treatments at Take Care Clinics across the country provides our nationally certified clinicians another tool to ensure individuals and families can receive clinically appropriate care where and when it’s needed.”

Nebulizer treatments will be available year-round to patients two years of age and older at all Take Care Clinics. All nebulizer treatments will be administered, if deemed medically necessary, in conjunction with an evaluation at a Take Care Clinic. While undergoing treatment at a clinic, patients can receive prescriptions for nebulizers that can be filled at the patient’s pharmacy of choice. In addition, providers will offer the patient demonstration and education on the use of nebulizers and inhalers as needed.

“Over the past year, we have seen more than 300,000 cases of acute respiratory conditions. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants have written prescriptions for nebulizers or meter dosed inhalers for roughly 10 percent of visits,” said Peter Miller, Take Care Health Systems president and CEO.