The ceremony was over when I arrived at the Walgreens in McHenry, but County Board member Jim Heisler was still around.
Advocate Health System selected the Walgreens in McHenry to spotlight its take over of the drug store chain’s health clinics.
Advocate, of course, operates Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.
52% of Good Shepherd’s patients come from McHenry County.
Advocate also recently acquired Sherman Hospital just south of the Tollway in Kane County.
The Walgreens at the intersection of Routes 31 and 176 had no sign of a clinic.
I decided to see if other local Walgreens had the Advocate brand.
Advocate has its name on the front door of the Route 14 Walgreens in Crystal Lake.
When I went to the Route 14 Walgreens, however, Advocate’s name was on the front doors.
When leaving this Crystal Lake Walgreens, one sees a sign for the Advocate Clinic.
Both on the way in and on the way out.
Way in the back is an Advocate Clinic.
There was no grand opening, but an Advocate Clinic was up and operating at the Route 14 Walgreens.
One reason for the Advocate Clinics, one would imagine, is to funnel patients to Advocate physicians and hospitals.
Across the street Walgreens’ main competitor is building its second Crystal Lake drug store.
CVS construction across from Crystal Lake’s Route 14 Walgreens continues.
A physicians’ practice that previously had been associated with Centegra, now has joined Advocate.
The first is on the south side of Crystal Lake where Randall Road turns into Rakow Road.
Last year a doctor’s office within sight of the Centegra Hospital in McHenry switched allegiance to Advocate’s Physician Group.
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A commenter extends our theme of Advocate’s aiming at Centegra’s market with its Walgreen clinics.
One of the Walgreens in Huntley had a grand opening yesterday at 10 AM.
It’s Sherman Hospital will be competing with Centegra’s soon-to-opened Huntley Hospital.
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In the interest of full disclosure, my wife works for a subsidiary of Advocate.
Centegra has gone down fast and is definitely on its way out.
They have added fees, such as over $130 “facilities fee” just to draw blood and their billing department is an absolute mess.
The sooner they are bought out, the better for the community.
One of the two Walgreens in Huntley had its Advocate ribbon cutting yesterday morning at 10.
It was well attended by our local Chamber members, representatives from Walgreen’s headquarters in Deerfield, and from Advocate.
Will anyone ask the real question of this county board?
Just when will you stop running competition with the private sector so they can provide the services and jobs!
If county government would get out of the “nursing/clinic” business…it would reduce our taxes…
so why, why are you not holding board members’ feet to the fire?
Tell us Ersel, how is CVS, Walgreens, etc. going to handle a tuberculosis or meningitis outbreak?
There is a place for government in providing security to the population, the problem is when it spends money in a wasteful manner,for example 24 COUNTY BOARD members!
That is one part of government I am sure you would have done nothing about had you be elected to join the board member gravy train again.
So Sayers does that mean you want less representation on the board?
If you lower it enough then you can just have staff run the place with really little oversite.
I believe that the COUNTY BOARD was the only governing body in McHenry County that lowered their budget this year..
They have lowered the amount of people that work for the county over the past, I believe 5 yrs., along with their budget.
So where is the gravy train?
Isn’t that what you want in a board?
Or would you rather they be like the school boards?
Though I do agree with Ersel that government does need to learn to get out of certain practices.
I am not sure where they are on the county but agree..
To answer your question in one word…Yes.
If 2 US Senators are enough for an entire state, I think 2 board members per district is enough.
As the ole’ saying goes, to many Chiefs not enough Indians.
Call me old fashion, but I really would rather have someone who knows handling whooping cough out breaks and I prefer to have the restaurants I eat at be clean and up to standard.
I wonder what the people of Flint, MI think now after their state took over there water testing?
Sorry,but I don’t see the 2 DOZEN board members checking traps for west nile.
Also,the health department budget was cut by 50% last year, but my property taxes went up $400.
Hey, maybe if we eliminate it, my taxes can go up $800 next year.
As for the gravy train you’re probably right now that they have been called out for cheating the IMRF.
Wonder what kind of bonuses will the top dogs/ bottom feeders at Centegra give themselves for sinking the ship.
Well, Now CVS is in with Target Stores
So here is my question Why Why would you allow a CVS to be built in an already congested area when there are other Empty places in town to put it, and now they are moving into Target Stores this tells me the one jammed on Rt. 14 and the Walgreens corner will be empty soon …!
at least that may help relieve some of the congestion on Rt. 14’s parking lot, they call a road.
Ersel-these clinics are “above the waist”.
No sexually transmitted disease testing and no pelvic exams or paps are ever given at pharmacy clinics.