CVS/pharmacy Launches 'To Your Health' Program in Philadelphia Area, Providing Free Health Screenings

WASHINGTON, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS/pharmacy, the nation's leading retail pharmacy, brings its "To Your Health" community wellness program to the Philadelphia area starting June 19.  More than 80 events are planned at various CVS/pharmacy retail locations in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey through September. The community health screening events, also taking place this year in Atlanta and Washington D.C., offer a $150 value in free comprehensive health risk assessments and screenings to help improve access to preventive care to residents in urban and African American communities.

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The first "To Your Health" screening events in the Philadelphia area will be this weekend and will continue through the summer.  The events this Saturday and Sunday are 12-4 p.m. at the following CVS/pharmacy retail locations:

• 1001 Washington Ave. #99, Philadelphia
• 71 Springside Rd., Westampton
• 1100 Liberty St., Trenton

See a full schedule of events through September at www.toyourhealthusa.com or call 888-604-0333.

The "To Your Health" program, launched nationally in April 2010 in Atlanta, is part of efforts by CVS/pharmacy to improve access to preventive care in urban communities including Philadelphia and D.C.  In particular, CVS/pharmacy hopes to address critical health issues among African Americans, who often have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure.  For example, the rate of diabetes among African Americans is 11.8% (vs. 6.6% of non-Hispanic whites), according to the American Diabetes Association.

The "To Your Health" community wellness events provide diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and osteoporosis screenings, and also examine patients for oral care, provide referrals for mammograms and pap smears. Additionally, physicians are on hand to help patients interpret results and provide counsel on next steps.

In 2009, over 195,000 people were screened at similar free community health screening events for the Hispanic community across the country and serious health concerns were detected in an alarmingly high percentage of participants. Of the individuals screened:

• 33 percent had high cholesterol
• 36 percent had a high to moderate risk of developing osteoporosis
• 28 percent had hypertension
• 22 percent had diabetes, with more than half being diagnosed with diabetes for the first time

For more information please go to www.toyourhealthusa.com or call 888-604-0333.

About CVS/pharmacy

CVS/pharmacy is the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS). The Company operates more than 7,000 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drugs stores. CVS/pharmacy is committed to improving the lives of those we serve by making innovative and high-quality health and pharmacy services safe, affordable and easy to access, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS/pharmacy and CVS Caremark is available at http://www.cvscaremark.com .

SOURCE CVS/pharmacy