MinuteClinic President Addresses World Economic Forum Session on Innovation in Health Care Delivery

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, CVS Caremark's network of walk-in medical clinics, was highlighted as a breakthrough innovator in health care delivery by the World Economic Forum's Innovative Health Care Delivery Project. MinuteClinic President and CVS Caremark Senior Vice President and Associate Chief Medical Officer Andrew Sussman, M.D., presented MinuteClinic's accessible, evidence-based approach to care at a World Economic Forum satellite session attended by health care experts, regulatory representatives, researchers and other innovators in Montreux, Switzerland this week.

Sussman reported that the key elements of MinuteClinic's success include the ability to foster close patient relationships, a commitment to electronic medical records, use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, the deployment of highly trained nurse practitioners, the realization of efficiencies through co-location with CVS/pharmacy stores and the establishment of consistent network-wide operational procedures. He also described the expansion of MinuteClinic's scope of practice to include a wide variety of chronic condition monitoring services and CVS Caremark's recently announced plan to add 100 new MinuteClinic locations each year for the next five years.

MinuteClinic's continuing expansion of services has enabled MinuteClinic to positively impact patient health, said Sussman, who noted that non-acute care is now the fastest-growing category of care delivered at MinuteClinic.

"The most important aspect of our success at MinuteClinic has been the extremely high rate of patient satisfaction achieved by the practitioners treating our patients across the MinuteClinic network every day," Sussman said. "Patients who started out only coming to us when they got sick now may also come to us for help staying well. Our innovative approach to care is making a real difference in the lives of our patients in the U.S., and it was an honor to share this experience and to have the opportunity to learn from the other health care innovators."

MinuteClinic's approach to making health care more accessible was identified as a model of innovation in a project conducted at the World Economic Forum, said Olivier Raynaud, Head of Global Health and Healthcare sector.

"This project reviewed more than 20 innovative health care delivery models from around the world to assess the success factors and potential to be transferred, replicated and scaled up," said Olivier Raynaud.  "A selection of these models, which are improving access to quality, affordable care, were showcased at Montreux."

MinuteClinic practitioners 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 such as influenza, tetanus, pneumovax, and Hepatitis A and B are available at most locations. Wellness and prevention services include camp, sports and college physicals as well as health care screenings. Most health care insurance is accepted for MinuteClinic services.

About MinuteClinic

CVS 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 26 states and the District of Columbia. By creating a health care delivery model that responds to patient needs, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. Nationally, the company has generated more than eight 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