According to a recent online Wall Street Journal article, Walgreen Co. is taking definitive steps to expand further into the workplace health center arena. Specifically, Walgreen has announced its plans to acquire two worksite health-center companies in an effort to build its business as a manager of on-site health centers at large companies. The work-site health centers are in addition to Walgreen’s in store clinics. According to the WSJ article, once the deals are completed, Walgreen will have more than 500 worksite and retail health centers in 40 states. Walgreen’s announcement further confirms the growing trend by big box and national chain stores (e.g., Walmart) to try to reach health care consumers where they work and shop instead of making consumers seek out health care providers.
