SAINT THOMAS HEALTH, KROGER AND THE LITTLE CLINIC EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE THROUGH NEW CLINICALLY INTEGRATED ALLIANCE

Today, Saint Thomas Health announces a clinically integrated alliance with The Little Clinic, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co., to offer extended patient access to healthcare throughout Middle Tennessee. Saint Thomas Health is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system.

The alliance between Saint Thomas Health, Kroger and The Little Clinic is designed to conveniently provide consumers with the care they need by connecting The Little Clinic’s Nashville-area in-store clinics, as well as Kroger pharmacies, with the expertise of more than 500 physicians and clinicians of Saint Thomas Medical Partners.  Whether patients need the convenience of The Little Clinic for common illness or primary care physicians and specialized care through Saint Thomas Medical Partners, together the organizations will make those connections easier within the community.

“This collaboration will offer yet another access point for patients to enter Saint Thomas Health’s integrated system of care,” said Karen Springer, Saint Thomas Health President and CEO. “Working with Kroger and The Little Clinic will help us realize our goal of offering convenient, personalized care options close to the homes of those we serve.”

“Kroger is always focused on the needs of our customers and is constantly working to improve our services and offerings. We recognize that customers are putting an increased priority on their health, and have responded with a robust health and wellness strategy,” said Colleen Lindholz, Kroger’s President of Pharmacy and The Little Clinic. “Health starts in the store, with the foods you buy. When you have minor illnesses, you can turn to The Little Clinic for quality, convenient care. And for major or chronic health concerns, Saint Thomas offers world-class physicians.”

Saint Thomas Medical Partner’s physicians will collaborate with The Little Clinic’s practitioners to enhance the overall experience for patients through integrated care, including consultations with Kroger pharmacists and dietitians. The Little Clinic patients who need a personal physician will have a coordinated experience to connect with a Saint Thomas Medical Partners primary care physician and other specialists or services, as needed.

“As we work with Kroger and The Little Clinic, we share a common goal of integrating our resources and unique capabilities to improve the health of Middle Tennesseans, “ said Fahad Tahir, CEO of Saint Thomas Medical Partners. “By coming together with Kroger’s complimentary expertise, such as pharmacists and dietitians, we are empowering our community to live healthier.”

“Our organizations have a shared vision that includes the achievement of the objectives of serving our community through offering better quality care, lower costs, improved experience for patients and improved experience of providers,” said Dr. Marc Watkins, chief medical officer for The Little Clinic. “Working in collaboration with Saint Thomas Health for the benefit of everyone in the community goes a long way in making low-acuity healthcare services more conveniently and readily available as well as helps to lower cost and improve patient outcomes.”

The Little Clinic operates 22 clinics with more than 65 advanced practitioners in Middle Tennessee providing care for the entire family. Providers are authorized to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common illnesses such as bronchitis, sinus infections, seasonal allergies and the flu. The Little Clinic locations are open seven days a week, including evenings, and no appointment is necessary. Patients can also conveniently hold their spot online.

Saint Thomas Medical Partners is among the region’s largest medical groups.  As a comprehensive multi-specialty physician network, STMP operates 97 practice sites with more than 500 physicians and advanced practitioners in 32 specialties serving communities throughout Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.

The alliance is effective October 31, with full implementation in all sites of care planned for early 2018. In the coming months, the Saint Thomas Medical Partners logo will be added to Kroger and The Little Clinic locations across Middle Tennessee recognizing the relationship.

About The Little Clinic

The Little Clinic is a pioneer in customer-focused healthcare with a mission to help people live healthier lives. A wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co., The Little Clinic healthcare clinics are currently located inside select Kroger stores in Indiana, Mississippi, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio; King Soopers in Colorado, Fry’s Food Stores in Arizona, Dillons stores in Kansas and JayC stores in Indiana. The Little Clinic was awarded The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® in 2009 and has maintained consecutive accreditation in 2012 and 2015.Visit The Little Clinic online at www.thelittleclinic.com, www.facebook.com/thelittleclinicand www.thelittleclinic.blogspot.com.

About Saint Thomas Health 
In Tennessee, Ascension’s Saint Thomas Health operates nine hospitals in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities that cover a 68-county area and employ more than 8,000 associates.  Across the state, Saint Thomas Health provided more than $92 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2017.  Serving Tennessee for 15 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable.  Ascension is the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, operating 2,500 sites of care – including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia.   Visit www.sthealth.com.

About The Kroger Co.

At The Kroger Co., we are dedicated to our purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are 450,000 associates who serve nearly nine million customers daily in 2,793 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Our Family of Companies operates an expanding ClickList offering – a personalized order online service – in addition to 2,258 pharmacies, 783 convenience stores, 307 fine jewelry stores, 222 retail health clinics, 1,472 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Our Company has been recognized as one of America’s most generous companies for our support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. As a leader in supplier diversity, we are a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.