• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Bartell Drugs Teams With MinuteClinic to Offer Quick, Convenient Healthcare Services at Selected Store Locations Beginning Today (December 5)

Posted on: Monday, 5 December 2005, 09:01 CST

Beginning Monday, December 5, quick and convenient quality health care is only a few minutes away as Bartell Drugs teams with MinuteClinic to open the first four in-store health care centers at Bartell's locations in Seattle, Bellevue, Sammamish and Renton.

Seattle-based Bartell Drugs will be the first drugstore chain in the Puget Sound market to offer this new health care service, which will be available seven days a week.

Operated by MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Washington, LLC, the health care centers' highly trained nurse practitioners will diagnose, treat and write prescriptions (when clinically appropriate) for minor ailments ranging from strep throat and earaches to bronchial infections and pink eye. The typical MinuteClinic health care center visit is 10 to 15 minutes and no appointments are necessary.

MinuteClinic will open four clinics in Bartell Drugs stores at the following locations:

-- 4th & Madison - 910 4th Ave. Seattle

-- Crossroads - 653 156th Ave. NE Bellevue

-- Sammamish - 526 228th Ave. NE Sammamish

-- Renton Highlands - 4700 NE 4th Street Renton

Hours for the MinuteClinic locations will be designed to meet customers' needs offering evening and weekend hours with no appointment necessary. The health care centers typically serve patients who are 18 months and older, although patients who are 16 or 17 years old may be seen without an adult if they have written permission from a parent or guardian.

Treatment prices are posted outside of each health care center and visits are covered by some insurance plans, including United Healthcare. Most treatments cost $59. Individuals with illnesses outside of MinuteClinic's scope of service or who exhibit symptoms of a chronic condition are referred to their physician or, if critical, the nearest urgent care center or emergency room. Patients who can't be treated are not charged for their visit.

"MinuteClinics are a natural extension of our continuing commitment to the health and wellness of the communities we serve," said Jean Bartell Barber, CFO for Bartell Drugs. "In today's time-crunched society, it can be difficult to fit in traditional office visits for simple illnesses, which makes these clinics a fast, convenient and affordable way for customers to take care of their health care needs."

"MinuteClinic services are a complement to primary care providers," said Dr. James Woodburn, M.D., chief medical officer for MinuteClinic. "Our nurse practitioners make it a point to stress the importance of a regular medical exam with every patient they see. If the individual doesn't have a medical home, we provide a list of physicians in the area who are accepting new patients."

During a MinuteClinic visit, a certified nurse practitioner will use a software program that guides diagnosis, treatment and billing. At the conclusion of each visit, the software generates educational material, an invoice and prescription for the patient, as well as a diagnostic record that is automatically sent to the patient's primary care provider. A supervising physician is on call during all hours of operation.

According to Dr. Woodburn, every MinuteClinic patient assessment and treatment follows nationally established clinical practice guidelines from the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics that are embedded in MinuteClinic's electronic medical records system.

For more information on MinuteClinic, including a list of services, visit www.minuteclinic.com.

Seattle-based Bartell Drugs owns and operates stores in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Family owned for 115 years, it is the nation's oldest drugstore chain. For more information on Bartell Drugs visit www.bartelldrugs.com.

About MinuteClinic:

MinuteClinic, Inc. is the pioneer and industry leader of retail-based health care in the United States. Founded in May 2000, the Minneapolis-based company has provided more than 300,000 patient visits with 99 percent customer satisfaction. It has produced substantial savings of health care expenditures and also reduced the time spent by patients seeking treatment for the conditions it addresses. For information, visit www.minuteclinic.com.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category