An Innovation in Health Care Opens at CVS/Pharmacy Stores in Greater Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Quick, convenient, quality health care has come to Columbus with today’s opening of MinuteClinic health care centers at CVS/pharmacy stores in Grove City and Hilliard. The MinuteClinics, the first retail-based health care centers in Columbus, are open Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sat.-Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MinuteClinics are staffed by certified family nurse practitioners who are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions (when clinically appropriate) for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. MinuteClinics also offer common vaccinations, such as flu shots, tetanus, MMR and Hepatitis A & B.
The MinuteClinics in the Columbus area are operated by MinuteClinic, LLC. The stores are located at:
* Grove City CVS/pharmacy, Stringtown Road and McDowell Road * Hilliard CVS/pharmacy, Roberts Road and Walcutt Road
Three additional MinuteClinics are expected to open later in 2006 at CVS/pharmacy stores in Gahanna, Pickerington and Upper Arlington.
MinuteClinic, a privately held company, is the pioneer and largest provider of retail health care in the United States with 73 health care centers in nine states. MinuteClinic plans to open between 150 and 200 additional health care centers in 2006. In addition to Columbus, MinuteClinics are located in Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, Providence, Raleigh-Durham, Seattle and the Maryland Capital area markets.
Because examinations typically take 10-15 minutes and no appointment is necessary, MinuteClinics are an ideal solution for professionals and working parents who cannot afford time away from the workplace.
“MinuteClinics 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.”
MinuteClinic is working closely with the larger insurance carriers in Ohio to be a participating provider in their networks. For patients who are a member of Aetna, Anthem, CIGNA, Medicare of Ohio and United Healthcare, MinuteClinic will accept as payment the office visit copay indicated on their insurance card. For customers paying cash or credit, treatment prices are posted outside each health care center. Most treatments cost $49.
“MinuteClinic offers customers convenient, high quality health care services and is a natural extension of our mission to be the easiest pharmacy retailer for customers to use,” said Chris Bodine, executive vice president for merchandising at CVS/pharmacy. “Along with their 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, MinuteClinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who are Registered Nurses (RNs) with college degrees and have two additional years of graduate-level training in family practice medicine. Nurse practitioners work in collaboration with physicians and may prescribe medication. Kelly Lehman, nurse practitioner and manager of operations, will oversee MinuteClinic locations in Columbus.
MinuteClinic nurse practitioners use a software program that at the conclusion of each visit, generates educational material, an invoice and a prescription 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 is on call during all hours of operation.
“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 our electronic medical records system,” said Dr. James Woodburn, M.D., chief medical officer for MinuteClinic.
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. MinuteClinics only serves patients over the age of 18 months.
“Our services are a complement to primary care providers,” Woodburn explains, “and 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.”
Treatments: (most services cost $49 or an insurance co-pay) Common Illnesses Allergies (ages 6+) $49 Bronchitis (ages 10-65) $49 Strep Throat (with overnight culture add $14) $59 Pink Eye & Styes $49 Ear Infections $49 Bladder Infections (Female, ages 12-65) $59 Sinus Infections (ages 5+) $49 Additional Treatments Chlamydia (ages 16+) $64 Pregnancy Testing $39 Mono $59 Laryngitis $49 Flu (ages 10-65) $83 Swimmer’s Ear $49 Skin Conditions Athlete’s Foot $49 Poison Ivy (ages 3+) $49 Impetigo $49 Wart Removal $59 Minor Sunburn $49 Deer Tick Bites (ages 12+) $49 Swimmer’s Itch $49 Minor Skin Infections $49 Cold Sores $49 Ringworm $49 Minor Burns & Rashes $49
Vaccines: (Prices vary; vaccines generally have a $0 co-pay for most insurance plans)
— DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) $65 — Hepatitis A (adult) $85 — Hepatitis B (adult) $65 — IPV (polio) $80 — MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) $65 — Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria) $45 — Flu (Oct-Dec) $30 — Hepatitis A (child) $54 — Hepatitis B (child) $50 — Meningitis $110 — Pneumonia (Oct-Dec) $30
MinuteClinic health care centers are located in Bartell Drugs stores (Seattle), CVS/pharmacy stores (Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Columbus, Indianapolis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, Raleigh-Durham, and the Maryland Capital area), Target stores (Baltimore, Minneapolis-St. Paul) and Cub Foods stores (Minneapolis-St. Paul). In the Twin Cities, MinuteClinic health care centers are also located in office buildings, on corporate and college campuses and in shopping centers. In Providence/Woonsocket, there is a MinuteClinic health care center at the CVS/pharmacy corporate headquarters.
About MinuteClinic
Founded in 2000 and based in Minneapolis, MinuteClinic has provided nearly 400,000 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 http://www.minuteclinic.com/.
MinuteClinic
CONTACT: Brent Burkhardt of TBC Public Relations, +1-410-986-1303,bburkhardt@tbc.us
Web site: http://www.minuteclinic.com/