MinuteClinic Forms Strategic Affiliation with Catholic Healthcare West in Phoenix

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and PHOENIX, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), and Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), the eighth largest hospital provider in the nation, have entered into a clinical collaboration to enhance the high quality, affordable health care services they provide in communities throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.

MinuteClinic has 10 walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in the Phoenix region.  The clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for common family illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services and health condition monitoring.  Catholic Healthcare West operates a not-for-profit network of hospitals and hospital-affiliated medical facilities throughout the Phoenix region, including St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Chandler Regional Medical Center and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.

"This strategic collaboration will create a seamless linkage to CHW's broader continuum of care.  CHW will continue to seek relationships with 'best-in-class organizations' that will provide the community with greater access to convenient, high quality health care services," said Scott Nordlund, CHW's Vice President, New Venture and Partnership Development.

"We share a common goal with Catholic Healthcare West to strengthen the Phoenix community by expanding access to high quality, affordable health care services in locations close to where people live and work," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "Through this agreement, Catholic Healthcare West will serve as a valuable resource to MinuteClinic nurse practitioners in Phoenix. We also look forward to collaborating with Catholic Healthcare West on information connectivity and a broad range of programs, including our new monitoring services and lab testing for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and asthma patients."

Under the agreement, family physicians on the medical staff of a CHW hospital will serve as medical directors for MinuteClinic locations in Phoenix. In addition, MinuteClinic and CHW will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offers. CHW 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 is a clinical collaborator with Catholic Healthcare West.

Later this year, MinuteClinic and CHW will work to fully integrate their electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of an individual's care.  With patient permission, each CHW-affiliated MinuteClinic will share medical history and visit summaries with other CHW locations in Phoenix.  In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending visit summaries via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours.

MinuteClinic 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 such as influenza, tetanus, pneumovax, and Hepatitis A & B are available at most locations. Camp, sports and college physicals are among a range of wellness and prevention services at MinuteClinic that also include a series of screenings to help consumers identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health.

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

About Catholic Healthcare West

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., is a system of 40 hospitals and medical centers in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Founded in 1986, it is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest private hospital system in California. CHW is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health care services with special attention to the poor and underserved. The CHW network of nearly 10,000 physicians and approximately 54,000 employees provides health care services to more than five million people annually. In 2009, CHW provided nearly $1.2 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed patient care. CHW facilities in Arizona include Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and Barrow Neurological Institute, CHW Urgent Cares in Ahwatukee, Gilbert and Queen Creek, Warner Outpatient Surgery and the Arizona Orthopedic Surgical Hospital. For more information, please visit our website at www.chwHEALTH.org.

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 seven 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