In September, Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care shuttered its convenient care clinics located inside Walgreens stores, the Detroit Free Press reported Oct. 1.
A total of nine clinics, mostly situated in rural areas of the state, were closed, including several inside Walgreens locations. Known as Now+Clinics, these facilities provided care to communities that supported McLaren's hospital and primary care services, as well as underserved "shoulder communities" in need of expanded healthcare access, James Curtis, McLaren spokesperson, told the Detroit Free Press in a 2023 interview.
The Now+Clinics, staffed by registered nurses on-site, offered a hybrid of in-person and virtual care, connecting patients to Michigan-based nurse practitioners through video consultations.
"Following focused discussions, the decision has been made to cease operations all McLaren Now+Clinics," a spokesperson for McLaren told Becker's in an emailed statement. "Many factors were considered before ultimately making this decision, including the rapidly changing landscape of the national and statewide retail pharmacy industry, and the availability of convenient and primary care options in those communities, including the McLarenNow telehealth urgent care platform."
McLaren said it has notified patients about the closures and that the team members a part of the clinics will be welcomed at other McLaren locations.
McLaren Now+Clinics at select Michigan Walgreens locations launched in 2020.