MultiCare Health System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:

FOR RITE AID:
Cheryl Slavinsky
(717) 731-6566

MULTICARE:
Todd Kelley
(253) 403-1716

(TACOMA) –August 15 and 16, MultiCare Health System and Rite Aid Corporation will host the grand opening of MultiCare Express Clinics inside two area Rite Aid stores.

MultiCare Express Clinics are located in the Rite Aid stores in Lakewood at 5700 100th St. SW and in Tacoma at 7041 Pacific Ave.

The MultiCare Express Clinics in Lakewood and Tacoma offer convenient, walk-in care with minimal wait times at affordable prices. Certified nurse practitioners provide patients with wellness services and quality care for common illnesses such as strep throat, ear aches, flu, bladder infections, bronchitis and allergies. The MultiCare Express clinics will also have laboratory tests, immunizations and health screenings available. Clinic hours are 9 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and 10 am to 6 pm Saturday and Sunday.

MultiCare Express Clinics are part of MultiCare Health System, which is one of the few health systems in the nation to offer a comprehensive, secure electronic health record system. With this system, called MultiCare Connect, patients experience the convenience of having the same, computerized health information available each time they visit a health care provider within the MultiCare system, including the MultiCare Express Clinics.

MultiCare Express Clinics also have the ability to provide treatment information to the patient’s primary care provider, with the patient’s permission. This allows a physician to know what type of care their patient is receiving, enabling them to stay better connected with their patients. Patients who need additional services can access the physicians, clinics and hospitals of the MultiCare Health System, the largest health system in the south Puget Sound region.

“The MultiCare Express Clinics are an example of our dedication to enhancing the health of the communities we serve and to uphold our mission of providing quality patient care in the region,” said Andrew Baron, MD, Primary Care Medical Director for the MultiCare Medical Group. “These clinics make that quality care more convenient and accessible where it is needed the most.”

“Our partnership with MultiCare Health System fits in well with our strategic vision to be the destination for health and wellness services,” said Mark de Bruin, Rite Aid Executive Vice President of Pharmacy. “The MultiCare Express clinics will provide the same quality of healthcare patients would expect from any MultiCare Health System provider.”

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About MultiCare

MultiCare is a leading-edge, integrated health organization made up of four hospitals, primary care, urgent care clinics, multispecialty centers and Home Health, and many other services. A not-for-profit organization based in Tacoma, Washington since 1882, MultiCare has grown over the years in response to community needs. Today, MultiCare is the area's largest provider of health care services, serving patients at 93 locations in Pierce, South King, Kitsap and Thurston counties. Information about MultiCare is available through the company’s website at http://www.multicare.org.

About Rite Aid

Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with approximately 5,000 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia with fiscal 2008 annual sales of more than $24.3 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at http://www.riteaid.com.