Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Joins Forces with Clearway Health to Build and Establish First Specialty Pharmacy Scheduled to Open in Late 2026
Brings equitable medication access to children on specialty therapies, enhanced clinical patient and staff support and a sustainable growth asset for the health system.
CHICAGO, April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lurie Children's, based in Chicago, and Clearway Health, based in Boston, have joined forces to establish the hospital's first outpatient specialty pharmacy. The specialty pharmacy is scheduled to open in late 2026. The 2050 sq. foot design will be located on the third floor of the new Lurie Children's Outpatient and Infusion Center located at 1895 Arbor Glen Boulevard, Schaumburg, Illinois 60195.
This specialty pharmacy will improve equitable access to innovative medications, and clinical support to pediatric patients whose complex medical conditions require a higher level of care that often necessitates specialty medications not available at a retail pharmacy. The new specialty pharmacy will also keep the long-term care of the patient fully managed by a care team within Lurie Children's, simplifying the care journey, and helping to eliminate care fragmentation.
The specialty pharmacy will improve equitable access to medications and clinical support to pediatric patients.
"As the largest pediatric provider in the region, our commitment is to champion a healthier future for every child. Building a specialty pharmacy in partnership with Clearway Health simplifies what can often be a complex, costly, and time-consuming process for patients and their families who already face a challenging time, and ensures they receive their medications on time and with the right support and care needed along the way," said Tom Shanley, MD, president and chief executive officer, Lurie Children's. "Together, we are taking a major step forward in advancing the field of specialty pharmacy for children and their families."
Skilled specialty pharmacy patient liaisons will be embedded with care teams in clinical practices across Lurie Children's such as pulmonary, cystic fibrosis, rheumatology, neurology, infectious disease, hematology and oncology, and genetics. Specialty pharmacy staff will provide personalized education and support to each patient and will coordinate a medication management program through treatment assessments, monitoring and adherence -- all while improving access to care, reducing medication costs and improving clinical outcomes.
Lurie Children's providers and clinical care teams will gain valuable administrative support for time-intensive tasks such as health plan benefits investigations, prior authorizations, and financial assistance, allowing more focus on patient care. Clearway Health's team proactively works to assess potential administrative barriers and streamline these processes to improve medication delivery to the patient.
The specialty pharmacy will create a sustainable growth asset for the medical center, enabling long-term financial stability and building a legacy for Lurie Children's that will manage the medical needs of a complex patient population into the future.
"Lurie Children's remains fervent to further growth in scale, scope and finding new ways to provide innovative solutions that transform child health and create a healthier future for every child. Specialty pharmacy is a leading strategy for our organization to provide greater access to care and to continue our work as a transformational force in pediatric care," said Rich Lehmuth, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Lurie Children's. "We made our choice to partner with Clearway Health as the leader in specialty pharmacy services that has significant experience in reshaping pediatric specialty care."
"Our collaboration will provide a comprehensive new service line in outpatient pharmacy, yielding specialized care that is both personalized and effective for children facing complex health challenges," said Nicole Faucher, MS, president, Clearway Health. "Our experience aligns with the needs of Lurie Children's – we are equipped in hospital-owned, pediatric specialty pharmacy to fulfill the goal that every patient and their family have access to the kind of care Lurie Children's will provide and Clearway Health will support."
"Clearway Health's hospital and health system legacy is a differentiator that defines our partnerships. From the outpatient specialty clinics to the construction site for the future Lurie Children's specialty pharmacy, we have expertly and intentionally collaborated on the strategy for the program that will transform care for Lurie Children's, their providers, care teams, patients and families," said Allison Arant, senior vice president, client development, Clearway Health. "We congratulate the entire Lurie Children's team on beginning their specialty pharmacy journey and thank them for choosing Clearway Health as their partner."
About Clearway HealthClearway Health's specialty pharmacy services create sustainable assets and build lasting legacies for hospitals and health systems, providing a service that every patient deserves. Our team began at Boston Medical Center Health System, improving access to care and managing the complex medication needs of vulnerable patient populations. Equipped with this unique experience to solve challenges, Clearway Health partners with other hospitals and health systems to provide transformative specialty pharmacy services that put patients first. Our strategic partnerships build and strengthen the infrastructure for specialty pharmacy programs through improving operational workflows, implementing clinical programs, hiring and embedding skilled pharmacists and patient liaisons into the clinical team, providing proprietary software technology, unlocking drug access and leading accreditation processes. Clearway Health delivers a clinically driven service that eliminates barriers to medication access, improves the health of patients and communities, grows revenue at healthy margins for health systems and reduces costs for patients. To learn more, visit www.clearwayhealth.com.
About Lurie Children's Hospital
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children's hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children's resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children's is conducted through Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children's is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation's top children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
SOURCE Clearway Health