MinuteClinic Opens First Clinic Locations in New Hampshire

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, a division of CVS Caremark Corporation and the largest provider of retail medical clinics in the United States, has expanded to its 28^th state with the opening of clinic locations inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in New Hampshire. Clinics are now open in Concord and West Lebanon.  A Salem clinic will open Dec. 11 and locations in Hampton, Manchester and Nashua will open in early January.

With the opening of these six new locations MinuteClinic launches a new clinical collaboration with Dartmouth-Hitchcock to enhance access to high-quality, affordable health care services in the Granite State. Dartmouth-Hitchcock is the largest health care system in New Hampshire with a network of nearly 1,500 physicians.

Under the agreement, Dartmouth-Hitchcock physicians will serve as medical directors for MinuteClinic in New Hampshire and collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives.

The walk-in medical clinics are open seven days a week with no appointment necessary. Most major health insurance is accepted. For patients paying cash or credit, treatment prices are posted at each clinic and on www.minuteclinic.com. The cost for most services starts at $79. MinuteClinic is accredited by The Joint Commission, the accrediting body for hospitals and health care organizations in the U.S.

MinuteClinic's entry into New Hampshire is part of its national expansion plan to open 150 clinics nationwide in 2013.

"As we have experienced in other states, MinuteClinic can support the primary care model in New Hampshire by helping to improve access to affordable care at convenient locations close to where patients live and work," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/ Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "Our affiliation with Dartmouth-Hitchcock, which has a national reputation for clinical quality and patient centered care, will help us extend the best treatment at the lowest overall cost for patients and employers."

MinuteClinic medical clinics in New Hampshire are staffed by licensed nurse practitioners who provide treatment for acute illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring. The medical directors, family physicians from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Primary Care practices, will provide support and quality review of care provided by MinuteClinic's licensed nurse practitioners. They will also serve in a liaison role between community physicians and the MinuteClinic sites, enhancing collaboration between providers.

"Our commitment to creating a sustainable health system for the people and communities of our region requires that we deliver care in new ways that are convenient, accessible, high quality, and lower cost," said Dartmouth-Hitchcock CEO and President Dr. James N. Weinstein. "This partnership with MinuteClinic exactly fits our strategic priorities of improving the health of our population, providing value-based care, and using different payment models to reduce costs." 

MinuteClinic and Dartmouth-Hitchcock 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 Dartmouth-Hitchcock locations in New Hampshire with the goal of coordinating primary care among those patients who are part or seek to be part of D-H Primary Care services.

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, U.S. Department of Transportation (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.

The Concord clinic is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Until mid January, when it will become fully staffed, the West Lebanon clinic will be open Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MinuteClinic locations inside CVS/pharmacy stores in New Hampshire are:

Now Open:

• Concord, 4 Hall St.
• West Lebanon, 250 Plainfield Rd.

Opening Soon:

• Salem, 512 S. Broadway (Dec. 11)
• Hampton, 321 Lafayette Rd. (Early January)
• Manchester, 271 Mammoth Road (Early January)
• Nashua, 214 Daniel Webster Highway (Early January)

About Dartmouth-Hitchcock  

Dartmouth-Hitchcock is a national leader in patient-centered health care and building a sustainable health system. Founded in 1893, the system includes New Hampshire's only Level 1 trauma center and its only air ambulance service, as well as the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, and the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the state's only Children's Hospital Association-approved, comprehensive, full-service children's hospital. As an academic medical center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock provides access to nearly 1,500 primary care doctors and specialists in almost every area of medicine, as well as world-class research at the Audrey and Theodor Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

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 750 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