Walmart's Healthcare Research InstituteSM Launches with Mission to Improve Care for Underserved Communities through Research
October 11 2022 - 6:30AM
Business Wire
WHRI offers inclusivity for patients in rural
and underserved communities to participate in clinical research
Today, Walmart is announcing the launch of the Walmart
Healthcare Research Institute SM (WHRI) to increase community
access to healthcare research that may help lead to safer, higher
quality and more equitable healthcare.
WHRI will be focused on innovative interventions and medications
that can make a difference in underrepresented communities
including older adults, rural residents, women and minority
populations. WHRI initially is focused on inclusion in studies on
treatments for chronic conditions and innovative treatments that
should include members from these communities.
“At Walmart, we want to help ensure all our customers have
access to high quality, affordable, and convenient healthcare
resources, including innovative research,” said Dr. John
Wigneswaran, Walmart’s Chief Medical Officer. “We know our
customers are interested in participating in healthcare research,
but many have not had access until now. We are already making an
impact for our customers and for medical research, by raising
patient trust and engagement in their care.”
For decades, clinical trials have not been representative of the
population at large and often recruit participants who live near
research centers, have the time, and have the financial ability to
participate.1 According to Food and Drug Administration data, in
2020 75% of trial participants were white, 11% were Hispanic, 8%
were Black, and 6% were Asian.2 Walmart is focused on studies that
can have a health equity impact in the communities it serves and
represent all populations. With 90% of Americans living within 10
miles of a Walmart, the retailer can offer solutions to care by
meeting customers and patients where they live and work.
Walmart is working with a wide range of study partners,
including clinical research organizations, pharmaceutical companies
and leading academic medical centers, including CTI Clinical Trial
& Consulting Services and Laina Enterprises. WHRI is already
demonstrating strong results, with a referral rate 3x the industry
benchmark.
“The efforts by Walmart in research are innovative and impactful
– it is clear that the intention behind their foray into this space
is to genuinely make a difference for patients of all ages, race
and gender in their ability to access research,” said Bill Hawkins,
Chairman of the Board, Duke University Health. “This initiative
will support individual patient health as well as the health of
numerous communities home to Walmart stores.”
To help make it easier for research patients to simplify their
care, Walmart launched MyHealthJourneySM, a digital tool that lets
patients take control of their own data through easy access to
their eligible medical records and insurance information online in
one place. With MyHealthJourneySM, patients receive reminders for
care services and research opportunities to help them keep their
health on track.
“Walmart's research initiative aligns with North Carolina
A&T's strategic plans to further expand its local, regional and
national community engagement activities in order to reduce social,
economic and health disparities within African American
populations,” said Dr. Raymond Samuel, Professor of Biology, North
Carolina A&T State University; Center of Outreach in
Alzheimer’s Aging and Community Health; Past Project Director,
Hampton University-based Minority Men’s Health Initiative (MMHI).
“Walmart's interest in ensuring that DEIA is at the core of its
effort to increase customer access to clinical trials is in synergy
with the historical commitment of NC A&T to enhancing the
well-being of its communities.”
Walmart’s Healthcare Research Institute is an extension of
Walmart’s long-standing commitment to helping expand access to
patients and underrepresented populations. The retailer has
demonstrated this through low-cost medicines such as, $4 generic
medication program and private label Relion® insulin, high-quality
healthcare at Walmart Health Centers and Vision Centers,
partnerships and programs to address Social Determinants of Health,
and now the opportunity to enroll in healthcare research.
Patients can learn more about healthcare research and
opportunities that may be right for them at
www.walmarthealthcareresearchinstitute.com.
References:
- Chaudhari N, Ravi R, Gogtay NJ, Thatte UM. Recruitment and
retention of the participants in clinical trials: Challenges and
solutions. Perspect Clin Res. 2020;11(2):64-69.
doi:10.4103/picr.PICR_206_19
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2020 Drug Trials Snapshot
Summary Report. February, 2021. 2020 Drug Trials Snapshots Summary
Report (fda.gov). Accessed October 9, 2022.
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save
money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores,
online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately
230 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and
numerous eCommerce websites under 46 banners in 24 countries. With
fiscal year 2022 revenue of $573 billion, Walmart employs
approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues
to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and
employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be
found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at
facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/Walmart.
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