Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) has announced Quality Independent Physicians, based in Louisville, as the latest healthcare provider to join its Rite Aid Health Alliance initiative. Through Rite Aid Health Alliance, physicians, Rite Aid pharmacists and special care coaches provide comprehensive care and support to individuals with chronic and poly-chronic health conditions, helping them achieve health improvement goals established by their physicians.

“Our Rite Aid Health Alliance program brings a collaborative approach to patient care, as physicians, care coaches and pharmacists work together to improve the health and wellbeing of patients,” said Robert Thompson, Rite Aid executive vice president of pharmacy. “Quality Independent Physicians is our seventh Rite Aid Health Alliance partner and we look forward to partnering with them as we bring a broad range of services to their patients in Lexington, Louisville and Southern Indiana.”

Rite Aid’s Health Alliance integrated care model is a first for the drugstore industry, because it uniquely leverages the combined expertise of community pharmacists, who are one of the most accessible and trusted resources among healthcare providers, along with specially trained in-store care coaches. Physicians can refer patients who they feel would benefit from additional coaching in areas such as medication management and meal and exercise planning. All members of the care team will communicate regularly with physicians in a true partnership to improve patients’ overall health.

“The ultimate goal of medical care is to educate and motivate patients to change and improve their health. The more avenues we can provide our patients to reinforce the same message, the more positive outcomes we will have,” said Dr. Michael Harper, Quality Independent Physicians Medical Director and practicing physician at Sellersburg Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. “Rite Aid Health Alliance will be a great resource for our practices to complement the health care plan created by our physicians and I am confident that this program will lead to better-informed patients with greater ability to achieve their healthcare goals.”

Through Rite Aid Health Alliance, patients with chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure, COPD, high cholesterol and diabetes, are recommended to the program by their primary care physician. Rite Aid pharmacists and specially trained care coaches, located in Rite Aid pharmacies, work with the physician and patient on an on-going basis to improve the patient’s overall health and self-management abilities. The care team members collaborate with the patient to establish health goals, eliminate barriers and create a personalized health care action plan in coordination with the patient’s physician.

Rite Aid previously announced that it is piloting Rite Aid Health Alliance partnerships with High Point, N.C.-based Cornerstone Health Care; Glendale, Calif.-based Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc. (“ApolloMed”); Greater Buffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network of Buffalo, N.Y.; Penn State Hershey Health System of Hershey, Pa.; Heritage Provider Network based in Marina Del Rey, Calif.; and Physician Direct ACO of Sylvan Lake, Mich.

In these markets at select Rite Aid pharmacies, Rite Aid provides the care coaches on the team through its wholly owned subsidiary Health Dialog, a leading provider of healthcare patient support, analytics and decision support. Health Dialog coaches will be available in Rite Aid pharmacies, and specialize in behavior change to help patients address lifestyle health issues.

The full range of services available to patients participating in Rite Aid Health Alliance includes medication compliance support; comprehensive medication reviews and reconciliation; nutrition and weight management information; disease education; exercise coaching and tobacco cessation support. Records of all interactions, which occur in Rite Aid pharmacies, as well as updates from the physician, are stored electronically, along with patient profiles including medications and lab results. This supports continuity of care and provides convenient access of information to other members of the patient’s healthcare team.

Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2014 annual revenues of $25.5 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com.

Quality Independent Physicians Medicare Shared Savings Accountable Care Organization is led by 45+ Louisville, Lexington and Southern Indiana independent primary care physicians to deliver high-quality care and meet patients' unique individual health care needs. Quality Independent Physicians primary care leaders share the same philosophical goals in the healthcare setting and strive to provide patients with a more positive health care experience. These physician leaders also work together and with other community healthcare providers to reduce excess healthcare dollar waste, such as with duplicative testing. More information regarding Quality Independent Physicians can be found at www.qipllc.com.