CVS Caremark MinuteClinic and Henry Ford Health System Announce Clinical Affiliation

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and DETROIT, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic and Henry Ford Health System are collaborating to improve access to health care in metropolitan Detroit. MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark, has 10 walk-in clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Southeast Michigan, staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants who can treat common illnesses, as well as offer wellness and prevention services, seven days a week.

The new affiliation will connect Henry Ford physicians, as on-call medical directors, to the 10 Southeast Michigan locations of MinuteClinic. In addition, MinuteClinic and Henry Ford will collaborate on educating patients and helping them to manage chronic diseases.  Henry Ford physicians will accept patients who need a level of care that is not provided at MinuteClinic.

"Through this collaboration, Henry Ford is increasing its capacity to serve patients in the community through hospitals, urgent and specialty care centers and now, walk-in medical clinics at CVS/pharmacy stores," said Mark Kelley, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer of Henry Ford Health System, and CEO of the Henry Ford Medical Group. "We will be expanding our ability to provide appropriate care at the appropriate place.

"Henry Ford doctors will consult with the on-site practitioners as needed. If people treated at a MinuteClinic do not have a primary care doctor for follow-up care, they will be given a list of local doctors, including Henry Ford physicians, from which to choose."

"Henry Ford Health System has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving the health and well-being of a diverse community of patients, and shares MinuteClinic's mission to make access to high-quality health care services more accessible for area citizens," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., president, MinuteClinic and senior vice president/associate chief medical officer, CVS Caremark.  "Our team of nurse practitioners looks forward to collaborating with Henry Ford's physicians to develop a clinical care network that meets the growing health care needs in the Detroit metro area."

MinuteClinic and Henry Ford will be developing a plan to provide clinical data integration to streamline communication for each person's care.  With patient permission, MinuteClinic will share medical histories and visit summaries with other Henry Ford locations in Southeast Michigan.  And MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending visit summaries to the patient's primary care doctor, usually within 24 hours.

This affiliation will not create a financial relationship between MinuteClinic and HFHS.  Medical directors will be paid for their services directly by MinuteClinic.

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, pneumonia, pertussis and Hepatitis A & B are available at most locations. Walk-in camp, sports and college physicals are available daily.

In addition, MinuteClinic offers a series of wellness services designed to help patients identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

MinuteClinic medical clinics are located in CVS/pharmacy stores in Farmington Hills, Fraser, Macomb Township, Milford, Northville, Rochester Hills, Shelby Township, Southfield, Walled Lake and Waterford. MinuteClinic is also exploring additional locations in the Detroit metropolitan area.

No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance is accepted. Clinics in Southeast Michigan 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 Henry Ford Health System

Henry Ford Health System, one of the country's largest health care systems, is a national leader in clinical care, research and education. It includes the 1,200-member Henry Ford Medical Group, six hospitals, the Health Alliance Plan, the Henry Ford Physician Network, 32 primary care centers and many other health-related entities throughout southeast Michigan. Henry Ford also is a major economic driver in Michigan and employs more than 23,000. The health system is led by CEO Nancy Schlichting. To learn more, visit HenryFord.com.

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 26 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 9.5 million patient visits, with a 95 percent customer satisfaction rating.  MinuteClinic consistently brings innovation to the marketplace and sets new standards for clinical quality that exceed national guidelines. 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