Clinical Collaboration with MinuteClinic and UMass Memorial Health Care is the First of its Kind in Massachusetts

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and WORCESTER, Mass., Dec. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), and UMass Memorial Health Care, the largest health care system in Central and Western Massachusetts and the clinical partner of the University of Massachusetts Medical School have entered into a clinical collaboration to enhance access to high quality health care services in Central Massachusetts. 

The agreement is MinuteClinic's first clinical collaboration with a health care system in Massachusetts.

The collaboration includes MinuteClinic's location inside the CVS/pharmacy store in Northborough and additional MinuteClinic openings anticipated in Central Massachusetts in 2012.  The clinics, which are open seven days a week, are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for basic acute medical problems and administer vaccinations.

Nurse practitioners at MinuteClinic specialize in family health care and can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions when indicated for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions and skin conditions are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia, pertussis and Hepatitis A & B are available at most locations.

"UMass Memorial Health Care has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving the health and well-being of patients in Central Massachusetts and shares MinuteClinic's mission to make access to high-quality health care services more accessible in the region," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., president, MinuteClinic and senior vice president/associate chief medical officer, CVS Caremark. "Since opening our first clinics in Massachusetts in 2008, we have continued to grow and now have 31 clinics in the state, including nine new locations in 2011.  We believe this affiliation will help us expand into other parts of the state as we look to open new locations in Central Massachusetts."

"UMass Memorial Health Care is always looking for innovative and cost effective ways of providing high-quality care to the people in the communities we serve," said John O'Brien, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care. "This partnership helps us provide the right care at the right time in the right place."

Under the agreement, UMass Memorial Health Care physicians will serve as medical directors for MinuteClinic locations in Central Massachusetts.  In addition, MinuteClinic and UMass Memorial Health Care will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer.  UMass Memorial Health Care is able to offer the full continuum of care for patients who need a level of care that is not provided at MinuteClinic. Signage at MinuteClinic locations will inform patients that each site has a clinical affiliation with UMass Memorial Health Care.

The two organizations will begin to work toward fully integrating their electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of each individual's care.  With patient permission, MinuteClinic will electronically share medical histories and visit summaries with other UMass Memorial Health Care locations in Central Massachusetts.  In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending patient visit summaries to primary care providers via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours.

No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance is accepted. Clinics in Massachusetts are open Mon.-Fri., 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

About UMass Memorial Health Care

UMass Memorial Health Care is Central Massachusetts' largest not-for-profit health care delivery system, covering the complete health care continuum with UMass Memorial Medical Center, its academic medical center, member and affiliated community hospitals, freestanding primary care practices, ambulatory outpatient clinics, home health agencies, hospice programs, a rehabilitation group and mental health services. UMass Memorial is the clinical partner of the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

About MinuteClinic
MinuteClinic is a division of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS), the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States. MinuteClinic launched the first retail walk-in clinics in the United States in 2000 and is the largest provider of walk-in clinics with more than 600 locations in 25 states and the District of Columbia. By creating a health care delivery model that responds to consumer demand, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. Nationally, the company has generated more than 11 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating.  MinuteClinic is the first retail health care provider to receive accreditation (2006) and reaccreditation (2009) from The Joint Commission, the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com.

SOURCE MinuteClinic

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