Group Health and Bartell Drugs Open New CareClinics in East Renton

Group Health and Bartell Drugs opened two new CareClinic locations at existing Bartell Drugs on Rainier Avenue in Seattle and in the Fairwood Shopping Center in Renton, expanding access to one-stop diagnosis, treatment and pharmacy services for area residents. With the addition of these two locations, there now are eight CareClinic locations in the region.

CareClinics are staffed by Group Health physician assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners and provide retail-based walk-in medical care seven days a week for anyone 2 years and older. Clinicians can assess and address a variety of common ailments, including upper respiratory infections; warts, rashes and skin issues; pinkeye or conjunctivitis; ear infections; urinary tract infections; and bronchitis.

The average visit time, including waiting, is less than 15 minutes and no appointment is needed.

“CareClinics allow patients to receive immediate care for many minor medical needs with the ease of a neighborhood walk-in location,” said Dr. Wellesley Chapman, Group Health medical director, innovation and development. “By expanding this model to new locations, we are able to provide greater access to easy, convenient care to even more patients.”

In addition to fast, high-quality service, CareClinics offer patients affordability and a simple pricing structure. Charges can be billed to most insurance plans—patients don’t have to be Group Health members—or directly to patients at a cost of $75 per visit. Vaccines and lab tests are priced separately.

“Bartell Drugs has a long-standing commitment to understanding local needs and our partnership with Group Health is one more way we offer exceptional, neighborhood-oriented care to our region,” said Ken Mahoney, chief operating officer, Bartell Drugs. “We’re excited to expand our CareClinic network with these additional locations.”

Six CareClinics already successfully operate in Bartell Drugs stores in Ballard, Bellevue, Crossroads, Greenwood, Sammamish and University Village. Due to consumer demand, Group Health and Bartell Drugs plan to continue expanding CareClinics throughout the region and will announce additional locations throughout 2016. For more information about CareClinics, visit http://care-clinic.org.

About Bartell Drugs

Family-owned since 1890, Seattle-based Bartell Drugs is proud to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2015 with customers and employees. Four generations of the Bartell family have continuously focused on the future - and how the drugstore chain could better serve its customers. Operating 64 locations in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, it is the nation’s oldest family-owned drugstore chain. For more information on Bartell Drugs, visit www.bartelldrugs.com.

About Group Health

Group Health Cooperative offers a unique health care system, care delivery and insurance coverage, in order to achieve one goal – affordable, quality health care for all. Our innovative practices at 25 medical centers and within major Washington hospitals have earned national recognition for medical quality, disease prevention, and evidence-based treatments. These priorities have remained the same since we began serving patients in 1947. As a nonprofit organization, Group Health helps nearly 600,000 patients throughout Washington state achieve better health. Our focus on preventive care, combined with medical education, a charitable foundation and a nationally recognized research institute, advances health in the community in a way no one else can. Group Health supports events, programs, and organizations that share this commitment to strengthening health in our communities. For more information about Group Health, visit www.ghc.org.

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