MinuteClinic Forms Strategic Affiliation With Inova Health System in Northern Virginia

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and FALLS CHURCH, Va., May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), and Inova Health System, a leading Northern Virginia health care provider serving more than one million patients a year, have entered into a clinical affiliation that will enhance the high quality, affordable health care services they provide in communities throughout Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties.

Inova operates a comprehensive nationally recognized network of hospitals, outpatient services and health care centers that includes Inova Alexandria, Inova Fairfax, Inova Fair Oaks, Inova Loudoun, and Inova Mount Vernon hospitals and Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children.  MinuteClinic has 14 walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores throughout Northern Virginia.  The clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for common family illnesses.  They also administer wellness and prevention services and health condition monitoring.

"Inova has a long-standing record of clinical quality and is one of the mid-Atlantic's premier health systems," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/ Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "Like MinuteClinic, it shares a commitment to expanding access to care for the millions of residents living in Northern Virginia, and it has developed several leading initiatives with the region's top corporations to improve the health of their employees. We think MinuteClinic can be a valuable addition to these programs that promote employee wellness and lower health care costs."

"Given Inova's mission to improve the health of the diverse community we serve, our affiliation with MinuteClinic proves strategic and seamless," commented Mark Stauder, President and COO of Inova Health System.  "We share the same commitments including education, community responsibility and excellence in patient care.  This is a partnership based upon quality, value and compassion and we look forward to the positive impact this will have upon the community."

Under the agreement, Inova will ensure that there is high quality collaboration with MinuteClinic's medical directors, who may include Inova-affiliated family physicians. In addition, MinuteClinic and Inova will also collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and inform patients of the services each offers. Inova will accept 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 Inova.

MinuteClinic and Inova 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 share medical history and visit summaries with other MinuteClinic and Inova locations in the region.  In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending visit summaries via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours.

MinuteClinic nurse practitioners specialize in family health care and are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations for illnesses such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia, and Hepatitis A & B are offered at most locations. Walk-in camp, sports and college physicals for adolescents are available daily. In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series of wellness services designed to help consumers identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

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

About Inova

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit health care system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency and urgent-care centers, occupational health and on-site employee clinic services, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova's mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research.

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 health care centers in the United States in 2000 and is the first provider to establish a national presence, with approximately 500 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 nine million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating.  MinuteClinic consistently brings innovation to the marketplace and sets new standards for clinical quality that exceed the national guidelines established for store-based clinics.  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

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED