MinuteClinic and Parkridge Health System Join Forces To Extend High-Quality Affordable Medical Care To Patients

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) and Parkridge Health System, a division of HCA/TriStar, have partnered to enhance access to high quality, affordable health care services in Bradley, Hamilton and Marion counties.

Under the partnership agreement, Parkridge Health System physicians will serve as medical directors for seven MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics. The clinics are open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Chattanooga, Hixson, and Signal Mountain as well as MinuteClinic's newest location in Cleveland, which opened June 21.  In addition, MinuteClinic and Parkridge Health System will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer.

Parkridge Health System will accept patients who need a level of care that is not provided among MinuteClinic services. MinuteClinic will inform patients about the affiliation with Parkridge Health System.

MinuteClinic also has a clinical affiliation with TriStar Health for its clinics in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

"As we have experienced with TriStar Health in Nashville and in other communities in the U.S., strategic clinical affiliations between MinuteClinic and health systems such as Parkridge enhance our ability to extend high quality medical services to patients in convenient retail locations near where they live and work," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "We look forward to having Parkridge Health System physicians collaborate with MinuteClinic nurse practitioners to provide quality oversight, teaching and back-up so MinuteClinic can provide the best care at the lowest overall cost for patients and employers."

Parkridge Health System operates Parkridge Medical Center and Parkridge East Hospital as well as Parkridge Valley, a two-campus behavioral health facility. More than 600 physicians in the Chattanooga area are affiliated with Parkridge Health System.

"The alliance between Parkridge Health System and MinuteClinic provides patients in our area with a comprehensive continuum of care," said Darrell Moore, President and CEO of Parkridge Health System. "It ensures that individuals have access to the level of medical treatment appropriate for their condition. Our facilities and staff are fully committed to providing all patients with the highest quality care."

Parkridge Health System, the first hospital system in the area to implement electronic health records, will work with MinuteClinic to streamline communication around all aspects of each individual's care.  With patient permission, MinuteClinic will electronically share medical histories and visit summaries with Parkridge Health System hospitals and affiliated physicians. 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, with patient consent.

MinuteClinic nurse practitioners specialize in family health care and can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions, skin conditions 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, college and other administrative physicals 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 Southeast Tennessee are open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

About Parkridge Health System
Parkridge Health System is a multi-campus facility which includes Parkridge Medical Center, Parkridge East Hospital and Parkridge Valley Hospital. Parkridge Medical Center, the main campus on McCallie Avenue, is an Accredited Chest Pain Center which offers comprehensive acute-care services including cardiology, oncology at The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, award-winning orthopaedics, and a 24-hour Emergency Department.  Parkridge East Hospital, located in East Ridge, provides the best in obstetrics including Neonatal Intensive Care as well as surgical services that include robotics, orthopaedics, and advanced gynecologic procedures. Parkridge Valley Hospital offers mental health services for children and adolescents at Parkridge Valley Child & Adolescent Campus as well as behavioral health and addiction treatment for adults at Parkridge Valley Adult & Senior Campus.  We are a family of hospitals for your family. To learn more, visit ParkridgeHealth.com or contact MedLine at (423) 622-6848.

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 650 locations in 25 states and the District of Columbia. By creating a health care delivery model that responds to patient demand, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. Nationally, the company has provided care through more than 16 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating. MinuteClinic is the only retail health care provider to receive three consecutive accreditations 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