University of Oklahoma Physicians (OU Physicians) and MinuteClinic Sign Clinical Collaboration for Oklahoma Clinic Locations

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and OKLAHOMA CITY, Sept 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), and OU Physicians, Oklahoma's largest physician group with more than 560 doctors, have entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance access to high quality, affordable health care services in Oklahoma.

The agreement includes four MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Edmond, Moore, Mustang and Norman.  The clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for common family illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring.

Under the agreement, OU Physicians doctors will serve as medical directors for MinuteClinic locations in Oklahoma.  In addition, MinuteClinic and OU Physicians will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer.  OU Physicians will accept patients who need a level of care that is not provided at MinuteClinic. Signage at MinuteClinic locations will inform patients that each site has a clinical affiliation with OU Physicians.

"MinuteClinic shares OU Physicians' commitment to clinical quality and expanding access to care to patients throughout central Oklahoma," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.  "We look forward to collaborating with their doctors who will provide quality oversight, teaching and back-up so MinuteClinic can provide the best care to Oklahomans at the lowest overall cost."

MinuteClinic and OU Physicians will begin to work toward fully integrating electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of their patients' care.  With patient permission, MinuteClinic will electronically share medical histories and visit summaries with other OU Physicians locations in the state.  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. 

"At OU Physicians, we are committed to providing high-quality health care to Oklahomans, and in today's rapidly changing health care environment, it is critical to explore smart, innovative ways to improve our citizens' access to necessary treatments and preventive care," said Brian Maddy, Chief Executive Officer of OU Physicians. "By joining forces with MinuteClinic and sharing our expertise, we can deliver much-needed care to a larger population of patients and make sure more Oklahomans get the resources they need to lead healthier lives.  We are very excited about the collaboration and the positive results it will produce."   

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 Edmond, Mustang and Norman 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.  The Moore clinic is open Monday - Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 12 noon to 5:30 p.m.

About OU Physicians

With more than 560 doctors, OU Physicians is Oklahoma's largest physician group. The practice encompasses almost every adult and child specialty. Many OU Physicians have expertise in the management of complex conditions that is unavailable anywhere else in the state, region or sometimes even the nation. Some have pioneered surgical procedures or innovations in patient care that are world firsts.  OU Physicians see patients in their offices at the OU Health Sciences Center and in Edmond, Midwest City and other cities around Oklahoma. When hospitalization is necessary, they often admit patients to OU Medical Center. Many also care for their patients in other hospitals around the metro area. OU Physicians serve as faculty at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and train the region's future physicians.

About MinuteClinic

MinuteClinic is the walk-in medical clinic inside CVS/pharmacy, which 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 13 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating.  For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com.

SOURCE MinuteClinic