MinuteClinic and Emory Healthcare Announce Clinical Affiliation

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and ATLANTA, Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), and Emory Healthcare, the largest and most comprehensive hospital system in Georgia, have entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance access to high quality, affordable health care services in communities throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. 

MinuteClinic has 31 walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in metro Atlanta. The clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for common family illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring.

The Emory Healthcare system encompasses Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, Wesley Woods Center, The Emory Clinic, Emory Specialty Associates, Emory-Children's Center, Emory-Adventist Hospital and Emory Johns Creek Hospital.

"We share a common goal with Emory Healthcare to make medical care more accessible and convenient in the Atlanta metro area, where we opened our first Georgia clinic in 2007 and continue to grow with six new clinics in 2011," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "As we have experienced with 11 other health system affiliations around the country, this relationship with Emory will enhance our ability to bring high quality care to patients in MinuteClinic locations in 13 Georgia counties."

"Emory Healthcare is expanding our presence to ensure we can offer our patients in the community ready access to outstanding care," said John Fox, CEO of Emory Healthcare.  "As a well-established part of the Metro Atlanta community, Emory Healthcare is well positioned to offer innovative care models as evidenced by this affiliation with CVS that will help extend our services to even more neighborhoods.  We are excited about this new opportunity to better serve our patients."

Under the agreement, Emory physicians will serve as medical directors for MinuteClinic locations in the metro-Atlanta area.  In addition, MinuteClinic and Emory Healthcare will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offers.  Emory Healthcare 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 Emory Healthcare.

MinuteClinic and Emory Healthcare 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 electronically share medical histories and visit summaries with other Emory Healthcare locations in Georgia.  In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending patient visit summaries to primary care providers via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours.

MinuteClinic practitioners specialize in family health care and can 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 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 the Atlanta 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 Emory Healthcare

Since 1905, Emory Healthcare has been at the forefront of medicine, putting cutting-edge interventional research and technology into lifesaving action. As the largest, most comprehensive health care system in Georgia, Emory Healthcare has more than 1,500 licensed patient beds, 9,000 employees and more than 20 health centers located throughout Metro Atlanta. 

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 medical clinics in the United States in 2000 and is the largest provider of retail clinics with more than 600 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 10.5 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating.  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