MinuteClinic Signs Clinical Collaboration with Baptist Health Care for Clinic Locations in Three-County Region of Northwest Florida

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and PENSACOLA, Fla., Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) and Baptist Health Care, the largest health care network in northwest Florida with a staff of more than 600 physicians, has entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance access to high quality, affordable health care services in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties.

Under the agreement, Baptist Health Care physicians will serve as medical directors for four MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Cantonment, Crestview, Gulf Breeze and Niceville and any future locations in the region.  In addition, MinuteClinic and Baptist will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer.

"Through this affiliation, we can build on Baptist Health Care's 60-year tradition of compassionate care in Northwest Florida by creating more convenient access to high quality medical services in the community," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "We look forward to having Baptist Health Care 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."

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

"At Baptist Health Care, we continuously explore opportunities to better serve patients by providing easy-to-access quality care in our community," said Brian Matson, Baptist Health Care Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer. "Our affiliation with CVS helps us achieve that. We are pleased to be able to form affiliations with well-respected national organizations to improve the quality of health for those we serve while remaining the area's only locally-owned not-for-profit health care system."

MinuteClinic and Baptist Health Care will begin to work toward fully 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 Baptist Health Care locations in northwest Florida.  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, 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.

No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance is accepted. Clinics in Northwest Florida are open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

About Baptist Health Care
Baptist Health Care is a community-owned, not-for-profit health care organization committed to improving the quality of life for people and communities in northwest Florida and south Alabama. A member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and 2003 Malcolm Baldrige recipient, Baptist continuously strives to be a national leader in quality and service. Baptist Health Care includes four hospitals, two medical parks, Baptist Manor, Baptist Leadership Group, Andrews Institute for Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine, Lakeview Center, Baptist Medical Group and Cardiology Consultants. With more than 6,700 employees and employed physicians, Baptist Health Care is the largest non-governmental employer in northwest Florida. For more information, please visit eBaptistHealthCare.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 medical clinics in the United States in 2000 and is the largest provider of retail clinics with more than 680 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 17 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