Clinical collaboration and integration of electronic medical records to be
provided at locations throughout NE Ohio
CLEVELAND, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Clinic has entered into a
clinical collaboration with MinuteClinic, the pioneer and largest provider of
retail health care in the United States, at several locations inside select
northeast Ohio CVS/pharmacy stores. These locations, which provide a
convenient, seven-day-a-week option for those with acute minor illnesses, will
now have a direct link to one of the nation's premier hospitals.
Sharing a core value of providing the highest quality care, MinuteClinic
distinguishes itself as the first and only retail health care provider to
receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the national evaluation and
certifying agency for nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in
the United States.
"This relationship will demonstrate a true continuity of care model in
Northeast Ohio," states David Bronson, M.D., Chair, Medicine Institute,
Cleveland Clinic. "Consumers today want access, affordability and coordinated
care at all levels. This collaboration with MinuteClinic enhances this
innovative solution and addresses those needs while providing quality medical
care for acute minor illnesses."
By the end of 2009, the collaboration will include nine locations in
northeast Ohio, each one staffed by a MinuteClinic nurse practitioner with
clinical consultation provided by a Cleveland Clinic Health System-appointed
Medical Director. The first location to implement this collaboration will be
in Chagrin Falls at 16801 Chillicothe Rd., effective January 2009, with the
rest to follow throughout the year. Signs inside and outside the stores will
notify customers that each site is collaborating with Cleveland Clinic.
As part of the collaboration, Cleveland Clinic and MinuteClinic will fully
integrate their electronic medical records (EMR) systems to streamline
communication around all aspects of a patient's care. Each Cleveland
Clinic-affiliated MinuteClinic will have access (with patient consent) to a
patient's Cleveland Clinic MyChart electronic medical record -- which includes
medical history, prescriptions, treatments and health maintenance information.
At the patient's request, MinuteClinic will share its patient information with
other Cleveland Clinic-affiliated locations in Northeast Ohio via the
MinuteClinic EMR for MinuteClinic patients who have been treated in those
locations.
"We are pleased to be working with one of the leading medical institutions
in the United States to expand access to basic health care needs in the
Cleveland community," said Chip Phillips, MinuteClinic president. "Through
this agreement, Cleveland Clinic's family physicians will serve as a valuable
resource to our MinuteClinic nurse practitioners in Northeast Ohio and we look
forward to collaborating with Cleveland Clinic on a range of patient education
and preventive services."
MinuteClinic treats common family ailments, such as allergies, bronchitis,
pink eye, sinus infections, swimmer's ear, minor skin infections and rashes.
The clinics also offer various health screenings, pregnancy tests, suture
removal and vaccinations.
Patients with more urgent medical needs will be referred to their existing
primary care provider, or the nearest urgent care center or emergency room. If
patients do not have an existing primary care provider, they will be provided
convenient options which will include -- but will not be limited to --
Cleveland Clinic-affiliated options.
Cleveland Clinic patients who contact the Nurse On Call service may be
referred to MinuteClinic as one option for the treatment of minor illnesses.
MinuteClinics operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. No appointments are required. Most health
insurance plans are accepted at MinuteClinic. For a complete list of insurers,
go to www.minuteclinic.com.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a not-for-profit
multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital
care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 by four
renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based
upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. U.S. News &
World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best
hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Approximately 1,800
full-time salaried physicians and researchers at Cleveland Clinic and
Cleveland Clinic Florida represent more than 100 medical specialties and
subspecialties. In 2007, there were 3.5 million outpatient visits to Cleveland
Clinic and 50,455 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every
state and from more than 80 countries. Cleveland Clinic's Web site address is
www.clevelandclinic.org.
About MinuteClinic
Minneapolis-based MinuteClinic is a subsidiary of CVS Caremark Corporation
(NYSE: CVS), the largest provider of prescriptions 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 500 locations across the country in 25 states. 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 more than 3 million patient visits, with a 95 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, 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
-0- 02/13/2009
/CONTACT: Erinne Dyer, +1-216-444-8168, dyere@ccf.org, or Tracy Wheeler,
+1-216-444-4235, wheelet2@ccf.org, both for Cleveland Clinic; or Brent
Burkhardt, +1-410-986-1303, bburkhardt@tbc.us, or Carolyn Castel,
+1-401-770-5717, ccastel@cvs.com, both for MinuteClinic & CVS Caremark/
/Web Site: http://www.minuteclinic.com /
(CVS)
CO: MinuteClinic; Cleveland Clinic; The Joint Commission; CVS Caremark
Corporation
ST: Ohio, Minnesota
IN: HEA MTC REA
SU: CON
PR
-- PH70335 --
4135 02/13/2009 07:00 EST http://www.prnewswire.com
