MinuteClinic and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Agree to Clinical Collaboration in Central New Jersey

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ), one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, have signed a clinical collaboration to enhance access to high quality health care services at MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in New Jersey's Middlesex and Mercer counties.

The affiliation is MinuteClinic's 32nd collaboration with a hospital or health system in the United States.

Under the agreement, MinuteClinic and RWJ will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer at the MinuteClinic locations open seven days a week inside three CVS/pharmacy stores in East Brunswick, Old Bridge and Plainsboro. In addition, RWJ primary care providers will serve as collaborating physicians for MinuteClinic nurse practitioners working in these locations. The collaboration includes plans for future clinics in the two counties as part of MinuteClinic's national expansion plan to add 150 new clinics in 2014 and reach a total of 1,500 clinics in the U.S. by 2017.

Founded in 1884, RWJ includes a network of 1,300 physicians in Central New Jersey and is rated a top 10 institution for clinical quality.

"Robert Wood Johnson is a significant addition to the list of clinical collaborations we have developed throughout the United States with large hospital networks, physician-led health systems, academic medical centers and community hospitals," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "We look forward to having RWJ physicians collaborate with MinuteClinic's nurse practitioners to provide quality support, teaching and back-up so MinuteClinic can provide the best care at the lowest overall cost to New Jersey residents."

MinuteClinic medical clinics in New Jersey are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for acute illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring.

Joshua Bershad, MD, MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, notes, "As we continue to move forward in the post-health care reform environment, a greater emphasis will be placed on prevention initiatives. Our partnership with MinuteClinic aligns perfectly with our mission of encouraging and promoting wellness in the communities served by our health system."

MinuteClinic and RWJ will begin to work toward integrating 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 facilities and 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 all locations. Walk-in camp, sports, college, DOT, 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.

MinuteClinic has received three consecutive accreditations from The Joint Commission and its most recent accreditation was affirmed last month following a survey of new clinic locations included in MinuteClinic's national expansion.

No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance is accepted. Clinics in New Jersey are open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) is a 600-bed academic medical center which is the flagship Cancer Hospital of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the principal hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. Robert Wood Johnson is an innovative leader in advancing state-of-the-art care. Its Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care, and women's and children's care including The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (www.bmsch.org). The hospital is also a Level 1 Trauma Center and serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness. The hospital has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety. RWJUH has been ranked among the best hospitals in America by U.S.News & World Report six times and has been selected by the publication as a high performing hospital in several specialties. The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital has also ranked among the nation's Best Children's Hospitals by U.S.News & World Report for two consecutive years. The American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer has rated RWJUH among the nation's best comprehensive cancer centers and the hospital's Comprehensive Stroke Center is certified by the Joint Commission to provide complex stroke care. The Leapfrog Group rated RWJUH as one of the 50 exceptional U.S. hospitals, as published in Consumers Digest magazine, and has given the hospital an "A" grade for safety and quality. Harvard University researchers, in a study commissioned by The Commonwealth Fund, identified RWJUH as one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for clinical quality. RWJUH is also a four-time recipient of the prestigious Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence. Visit us online at www.rwjuh.edu.

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 800 locations in 28 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 18 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 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com.

SOURCE MinuteClinic