CVS Health Expanding Free Wellness Screenings Statewide in California
Project Health events to be held year-round in Los Angeles and introduced in Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco throughout 2019
Campaign has delivered more than $27 million worth of free health services to underserved communities locally since 2006
Jan 30, 2019, 11:00 ET
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to building healthier communities across the country, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced it is expanding its free health and wellness screening campaign statewide in California throughout 2019, including in Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco.
Project Health, which provides access to care in multicultural communities with a large number of uninsured or underinsured Americans, will take place at select CVS Pharmacy locations in the greater Los Angeles and Fresno areas beginning Thursday, January 31.
"Better health starts at the community level, and Project Health delivers affordable and convenient access to free services that help identify health concerns and risk factors for our neighbors who may not have otherwise sought preventative care," said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health. "Chronic conditions, which can often be life-threatening, can be treated very effectively when identified early at screenings such as Project Health, and can help to improve a patient's overall health and well-being."
Project Health offers an array of free comprehensive health assessment screenings, including blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), glucose and total cholesterol screenings, which can help detect risk for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
The expansion of Project Health will also do more to screen for social determinants of health that affect personal health and communities. About 60 percent of life expectancy is driven by behavioral, social and environmental factors – including family, education, housing, and access to fresh food. Project Health events have a proven track record of improving patient engagement and ultimately, healthier outcomes.
Since it was founded in 2006, Project Health has delivered more than $127 million in free health care services to nearly 1.7 million Americans. More than 87 percent of patients who attend Project Health events report following-up with their primary care physician and were significantly more likely to proactively discuss their blood pressure, BMI and blood sugar levels, according to the company's own metrics. Additionally, 95 percent of participants said they would recommend Project Health to a family member or friend.
A total of 256 events will take place throughout 2019, including year-round in Los Angeles, and will begin in San Francisco in March, Sacramento in May and San Diego in July. Project Health events, which will be held on Thursday – Sunday in rotating stores across each city, are open to everyone and do not require an appointment. For a full calendar of event, please visit cvs.com/projecthealth.
"We are proud to offer Project Health in more CVS Pharmacy locations across California this year," said Hank Casillas, Divisional Vice President, CVS Health. "The free health screenings are a simple and local way for people to access much-needed health services, and are just one more way we are delivering on our company's purpose of helping people on their path to better health."
Once screened, patients have access to on-site consultations with bilingual nurse practitioners or physician assistants who will analyze results and refer patients who require additional medical care and follow up to no-cost or low-cost medical facilities nearby or to their primary care physician.
ABOUT CVS HEALTH
CVS Health is the nation's premier health innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Whether in one of its pharmacies or through its health services and plans, CVS Health is pioneering a bold new approach to total health by making quality care more affordable, accessible, simple and seamless. CVS Health is community-based and locally focused, engaging consumers with the care they need when and where they need it. The Company has more than 9,800 retail locations, approximately 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 93 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. CVS Health also serves an estimated 39 million people through traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including a rapidly expanding Medicare Advantage offering. This innovative health care model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.
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SOURCE CVS Health
