Walgreens will use Surescripts’ (Arlington, Va.) clinical interoperability services to electronically deliver patient data directly to primary care providers to improve the coordination of care.  All 7,800 Walgreens and Duane Reade pharmacies and 350 Take Care Clinics nationwide will use the Surescripts network to deliver immunization records to the patient's primary care provider. Additionally, Walgreens will also use the Surescripts network to provide immunization reporting to state and local public health agencies, and Take Care Clinic patient summaries to the patient's primary care provider.

"Currently, Walgreens pharmacists and Take Care Health providers can submit these patient records to physicians by fax or traditional mail. By using Surescripts' network to provide this important information electronically, we can improve the care that patients receive by making it easier for providers to compile more complete medical histories for their patients," said Jeffrey Kang, M.D., M.P.H., senior vice president of health and wellness services and solutions for Walgreens, said in a statement.

Walgreens will have the ability to electronically send a record of customers' immunizations to their primary care provider. For those who opt in to the service, Surescripts will use a standard format to capture immunization details and send the record to the patient's primary care provider in whatever form the provider is able to receive it - electronically or via fax or mail. Physicians using a Surescripts certified electronic health record will have the option of receiving immunization records via the Surescripts Clinical Interoperability Network.