Novant Health providers will start to see patients at several Walgreens locations across the state, including at one local store, officials said Wednesday.
 
The health system announced the opening of three Novant Health Express health clinics – one in Winston-Salem where Novant is based, one in Charlotte and one in Leland.
 
“Novant Health is excited to partner with Walgreens as this will help us make healthcare more convenient, affordable and accessible,” Pam Oliver, executive vice president and president of Novant Health Physician Network, said in a news release. “Our new clinics at Walgreens create an additional venue for Novant Health to support and care for community members with chronic conditions as well as expand access to quality care for minor illnesses and injuries.”
 
Other retailers in recent years have grown their health clinic footprints.

Walmart launched Walmart Health in 2019 for primary and urgent care, counseling, dental, optometry and hearing services. Walmart has more than a dozen clinics nationwide, and the retail giant said it plans to open more this year.
 
In 2006, MinuteClinic opened its first walk-in medical clinics in CVS Pharmacy stores, expanding to other areas including Wilmington.
 
Walgreens is the largest drugstore chain in the U.S. In other states, it has arrangements with local health systems to operate similar in-store clinics such as with Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta and the University of Miami Health System in Florida.
 
Novant physician assistants and nurse practitioners will staff the Novant Health Express health clinics, seeing patients ages 2 and older for common illnesses and injuries as well as providing services for chronic care without appointments, officials said. Testing, vaccinations, wellness exams and screenings also are part of the clinic services.
 
Novant already has a presence in Brunswick County through the Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center and physician group offices. This week it closed on buying New Hanover Regional Medical Center to create a regional hub for the health system.
 
Hours for the Leland Novant Health Express location, 319 Village Road NE, are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.