MinuteClinic Signs Clinical Collaboration with UCLA Health System for 11 Clinic Locations in Los Angeles County

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and LOS ANGELES, July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), and UCLA Health System have entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance access to high quality, affordable health care services in Los Angeles County.

Under the agreement, UCLA Health System physicians will serve as medical directors for 11 MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Los Angeles County.  In addition, MinuteClinic and UCLA Health System will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer.  UCLA Health System will provide care to patients who need a level of care that is not provided among MinuteClinic standard services. Signage at MinuteClinic locations will inform patients that each site has a clinical affiliation with UCLA.

"UCLA's international reputation for clinical quality and nearly 60 years of experience in serving the residents of Los Angeles County at the highest level of patient satisfaction were important factors in our decision to affiliate," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "We look forward to having UCLA physicians collaborate with our practitioners to provide quality oversight, teaching and back-up so we can provide the best care at the lowest overall cost."

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

UCLA is one of the most comprehensive and advanced health systems in the world comprised of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, Mattel Children's Hospital and a wide-reaching network of primary-care physicians and specialty-care offices throughout the region.

"UCLA Health System's purpose is to heal humankind one patient at a time and our commitment is to improve the health of our communities by exploring new and innovative ways to deliver patient care and manage chronic conditions," said Dr. David Feinberg, president of UCLA Health System and associate vice chancellor. "By providing access to our physicians' expertise through MinuteClinic services, we can help members of the community to lead healthier lives."

MinuteClinic and UCLA Health System 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 UCLA Health System locations.  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.

MinuteClinic 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 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 Los Angeles County are open Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Burbank clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays); Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

About UCLA Health System
UCLA Health System, which comprises hospitals within UCLA Heath System and the UCLA Medical Group and its affiliates, has provided advanced health care and medical treatment options to the people of Los Angeles and the world for more than half a century. UCLA's preeminence in health care — a strength that comes from the union of research, teaching and excellence in patient care — continues to be recognized nationally, internationally and in numerous forums. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is consistently ranked one of the top five hospitals in the nation and the best in the western United States by U.S. News & World Report. The UCLA Medical Group has been awarded Gold Level Achievement for clinical quality by the California Department of Managed Health Care and has been recognized by both the California Association of Physician Groups and the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its outstanding patient-centered care and medical care management. For more news, visit the UCLA Newsroom and follow them on Twitter.

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 approximately 600 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 12 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating.  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