While clinical trials with participants representing real-world patient populations are essential to developing safe and effective medicines, many studies present barriers—such as time, cost and travel—that prevent them from meeting their enrollment targets.
Kroger Health, the healthcare division of The Kroger Co., is working on a solution. The company recently announced its commitment to transforming clinical trials to improve access and equity by increasing awareness among more eligible participants. As one of America's leading retail healthcare organizations, Kroger Health has over 2,200 pharmacies and 220 The Little Clinic LLC (Little Clinic) clinics in 35 states serving more than 17 million customers.
“Access to care is one of our country's most significant determinants of health, and this is an area where Kroger Health can make a meaningful impact,” said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health. “We are passionate about increasing accessibility among diverse participants and working with like-minded pharmaceutical industry sponsors, contract research organizations and health systems to reach better solutions and improve patient outcomes together.”
With select Kroger stores now serving as clinical trial sites, participating in healthcare research could be as convenient as a trip to the neighborhood pharmacy. By collaborating with Kroger Health on a clinical trial, sponsors can benefit from services to support access at every stage—from recruitment to completion—including:
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Digital capabilities and strategic collaboration to support trial infrastructure.
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An expansive network of Little Clinics and pharmacies that reduce the need for patient travel.
Select Kroger pharmacies and Little Clinic locations are currently serving as the primary trial sites for a clinical study sponsored by Persephone Biosciences, with more trials to be added going forward.
This is not Kroger Health’s first foray into the world of research. The company collaborated with the University of Cincinnati on an independent clinical research study to learn how retailers serve as an important healthcare destination by combining food and nutrition education to support the health and well-being of shoppers. The resulting study, “Supermarket and Web-based Intervention targeting Nutrition” (SuperWIN), was a randomized controlled trial aimed at increasing diet quality and decreasing cardiovascular risk by promoting a heart-healthy diet through nutrition counseling provided by a registered dietitian. Since its onset, SuperWIN has shown clinically validated evidence for improved diet quality with the Food as Medicine approach.
Kroger has long been a destination for health needs, bringing a World of Care in Store to the communities it serves. Customers can fill their prescriptions at Kroger Family of Pharmacies, visit The Little Clinic, get professional nutrition tips, enjoy healthy living inspiration and so much more—right where they shop. Building upon Kroger’s ecosystem services, Kroger Health offers simplified solutions that combine health, wellness and nutrition. Notably, the company became a trusted community healthcare destination throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by broadening its health services to meet customers where they are with best-in-class patient care.
To learn more about how Kroger Health can support clinical trials, visit https://www.kroger.com/health/clinical-trials.