--MinuteClinic Provides Quality and Convenience Close to Home and the Workplace--
--Company Develops Strategic Alliance With Integris Health--
OKLAHOMA CITY, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Quick, convenient, quality health care has come to the Oklahoma City metro area with the opening of a MinuteClinic health care center at the CVS/pharmacy store in Moore at 1040 SW 19th Street. MinuteClinic (http://www.minuteclinic.com), the pioneer and largest provider of retail-based health care in the United States, plans to open up to six additional locations in the metro area by the end of the year.
The MinuteClinic in Moore, the region's first retail health care center, is open Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by master's-prepared, board- certified nurse practitioners who specialize in family health care and are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. MinuteClinic also offers common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, MMR, and Hepatitis A & B.
Because examinations typically take 10-15 minutes and no appointment is necessary, MinuteClinic is an ideal solution for professionals and working parents who cannot afford time away from the workplace.
"MinuteClinic health care centers are an answer to consumers' overwhelming demand for more patient-centric health care," said Michael Howe, chief executive officer for MinuteClinic. "As more patients look to take control of their health care options, we provide a fast, convenient and affordable service for common maladies that is available seven days a week."
In Oklahoma City, MinuteClinic has developed a strategic alliance with Integris Health, the state's largest Oklahoma-owned health system with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, physician clinics, mental health facilities, independent living centers and home health agencies. A member of the Integris Health's staff will serve as MinuteClinic's medical director in the market and will work cooperatively with MinuteClinic on patient and community health care education programs. Integris Health has also agreed to accept referrals for MinuteClinic patients needing emergency room, urgent care and primary care assistance.
"Integris Health is pleased to join with MinuteClinic and provide an opportunity for individuals and families to acquire low-cost, convenient health care, and in many cases, help to avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital," said president and chief executive officer of Integris Health, Stan Hupfeld. "This alliance will provide a connection to our physicians and strengthen the overall health of our communities."
MinuteClinic is in-network with the following insurers for patients in the Oklahoma City area: Aetna, Assurant Health, Great-West Healthcare, Medicare and PBA (Preferred Benefit Administrators). MinuteClinic will accept as payment the office visit co-pay indicated on the patient's insurance card. By September 15, MinuteClinic will also be a participating provider with: Beech Street, CBSA, ChoiceCare Network (PPO) - Humana affiliate, CIGNA HealthCare, PPO, Humana (excluding HMO), ppoNext, and UnitedHealthcare. For patients covered by these insurers, MinuteClinic will accept the required health plan co-pay indicated on a patient's insurance card as payment. For patients paying cash or credit, treatment prices are posted outside each health care center. Most treatments cost $59.
"MinuteClinic offers customers convenient, high quality health care services and is a natural extension of our mission to improve the lives of those we serve by making innovative and high-quality health and pharmacy services safe, affordable and easy to access," said Chris Bodine, executive vice president of CVS Caremark Corporation and president of CVS Caremark Health Care Services. "Along with its reputation for high quality health care, MinuteClinic has proven its ability to work collaboratively with physicians in the prompt diagnosis and treatment of patients."
To ensure quality and personal attention for patients, MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by board-certified practitioners with college degrees and graduate-level training in family health care. Nurse practitioners work in collaboration with physicians and may prescribe medication when it is part of the treatment plan. Cheryl Hooper, nurse practitioner and manager of operations, oversees MinuteClinic locations in the Oklahoma City metro area.
MinuteClinic nurse practitioners use a software program that at the conclusion of each visit, generates educational material, an invoice and a prescription (when clinically appropriate) for the patient, as well as a diagnostic record that is automatically sent to the patient's primary care provider's office. A collaborating physician (medical director) is on call during all hours of operation.
Every MinuteClinic patient assessment and treatment follows nationally established clinical practice guidelines from the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics that are embedded in MinuteClinic's electronic medical records system.
Individuals with illnesses outside MinuteClinic's scope of services or who exhibit signs of a chronic condition are referred to their physician or, if critical, the nearest urgent care or emergency room. Patients who can't be treated are not charged for their visit. MinuteClinic only serves patients over the age of 18 months.
MinuteClinic's services are a complement to primary care providers. MinuteClinic nurse practitioners stress the importance of a regular medical exam with every patient they see. If the individual doesn't have a medical home, they provide a list of physicians in the area who are accepting new patients.
MinuteClinic Treatments: (most services cost $59 or an insurance co-pay)
Common Illnesses
-- Allergies (ages 6+) $59
-- Pink Eye & Styes $59
-- Bladder Infections (Female, ages 12-65) $69
-- Bronchitis (ages 10-65) $59
-- Ear Infections $59
-- Sinus Infections (ages 5+) $59
-- Strep Throat (additional lab charges may apply) $69
-- Swimmer's Ear $59
Additional Treatments
-- Flu Diagnosis (ages 10-65) $93
-- Mononucleosis $69
-- Pregnancy Testing $49
-- Suture removal $59
Skin Conditions
-- Athlete's Foot $59
-- Cold Sores $59
-- Deer Tick Bites (ages 12+) $59
-- Impetigo $59
-- Minor Burns $59
-- Minor Skin Infections & Rashes $59
-- Minor Sunburn $59
-- Poison Ivy (ages 3+) $59
-- Ringworm $59
-- Wart Removal $69
Vaccines: (Prices vary; vaccines generally have a $0 co-pay for most insurance plans)
-- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) $65
-- Flu (seasonal) $30
-- Hepatitis A (adult) $85
-- Hepatitis A (child) $54
-- Hepatitis B (adult) $65
-- Hepatitis B (child) $50
-- Meningitis $110
-- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) $65
-- Pneumonia (Oct-Dec) $30
-- Polio (IPV) $80
-- Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria) $45
-- Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) $60
About MinuteClinic
Minneapolis-based MinuteClinic is a subsidiary of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS), the No. 1 provider of prescriptions and related healthcare services in the nation. 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 more than 250 locations across the country. By creating a health care delivery model that responds to consumer demand, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. The company has generated nearly a million patient visits with a 99 percent customer satisfaction rating. A recognized leader in the patient- centric health care movement, MinuteClinic consistently brings innovation to the marketplace and sets new standards for clinical quality that exceed the national guidelines established for store-based clinics by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). MinuteClinic is the first and only retail health care provider to receive accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (formerly known as JCAHO), the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.MinuteClinic.com
MinuteClinic health care centers in Oklahoma are operated MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oklahoma, LLC
SOURCE MinuteClinic -0- 09/07/2007 /CONTACT: Brent Burkhardt, +1-410-986-1303, [email protected], or Nicole Atkinson, +1-410-986-1317, [email protected], both of TBC Public Relations for MinuteClinic/ /Web site: http://www.minuteclinic.com / (CVS)
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