MinuteClinic Forms Clinical Collaboration With Cleveland Clinic Florida

WOONSOCKET, R.I., June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), and Cleveland Clinic Florida, widely recognized as one of the world's leading hospitals and physician group practices as part of the Cleveland Clinic health system, have entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance the high quality, affordable health care services they provide.

Expanding clinical coordination with the Cleveland Clinic Health System offers more patients greater access to high quality health care with one of the nation's premier hospitals. MinuteClinic and Cleveland Clinic currently collaborate in 10 locations in northeast Ohio.

Under the agreement, Cleveland Clinic Florida family physicians will serve as medical directors for 12 MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores from Palm Beach to Broward counties.  The clinics are staffed by MinuteClinic nurse practitioners and a Cleveland Clinic Florida-appointed medical director will provide clinical consultation.  The nurse practitioners deliver treatment for common family illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services and health condition monitoring.

In addition, MinuteClinic and Cleveland Clinic Florida will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives.  

MinuteClinic medical clinics are open seven days a week.  Signage at MinuteClinic locations will inform patients that each site is collaborating with Cleveland Clinic Florida.

"We look forward to working with one of the world's top medical institutions to expand access to high quality care in South Florida and deliver positive health outcomes to thousands of patients in the region," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/ Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "Cleveland Clinic family physicians will be a valuable resource for our nurse practitioners, and we hope to collaborate on a number of initiatives spanning from patient wellness to information connectivity among our clinical practice sites."

"What is exciting about this partnership is that it gives us the opportunity to explore new ways to deliver patient care and manage chronic conditions," said Eduardo Oliveira, M.D., Chairman of the Division of Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Florida.  "We will also be able to cost effectively provide health screenings and wellness programs which will be a tremendous benefit to the South Florida community."

MinuteClinic patients with more urgent medical needs will be referred to their existing primary care provider or the nearest urgent care center or emergency room.  If patients do not have an existing primary care provider, they will be provided convenient choices that include -- but are not be limited to -- Cleveland Clinic Florida-affiliated options.

With patient permission, Cleveland Clinic Florida and MinuteClinic will work toward integration of information sharing including medical histories and visit summaries among their locations in the region.  In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending 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 are trained to 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 for influenza, tetanus, pneumonia, and Hepatitis A & B are offered at each location. 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 South Florida 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 Cleveland Clinic Florida

Cleveland Clinic Florida, located in Weston and West Palm Beach, is a not-for-profit, multi-specialty, academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic Florida has nearly 180 physicians with expertise in 35 specialties. The medical campus is fully integrated and includes diagnostic centers, outpatient surgery and a 24-hour emergency department located in the state-of-the-art hospital, which was named one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals® by Thomson Reuters in 2011, 2010 and 2009. Cleveland Clinic Florida ranked second among the 18 best hospitals in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area in US News & World Report's first-ever ranking of Best Hospitals metro area rankings and was named a top hospital by Leapfrog Group. Cleveland Clinic Florida was also designated one of the nation's 50 Top Hospitals for cardiovascular care in 2010 and one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals® in cardiovascular care (2009, 2008, 2007) by Thomson Reuters. It was also named one of America's Best Hospitals for gastroenterology and diabetes/endocrinology by U.S. News & World Report in 2010. Cleveland Clinic Florida is an integral part of Cleveland Clinic Ohio, where providing outstanding patient care is based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic are experts in the treatment of complex conditions that are difficult to diagnose. For more information about Cleveland Clinic Florida, visit www.clevelandclinicflorida.org.

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 health care centers in the United States in 2000 and is the first provider to establish a national presence, with approximately 500 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 nine million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating.  MinuteClinic consistently brings innovation to the marketplace and sets new standards for clinical quality that exceed the national guidelines established for store-based clinics.  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