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MinuteClinic Continues to Expand in Las Vegas; Adds New Health Care Center at CVS/Pharmacy Store on The Strip

Posted on: Wednesday, 14 March 2007, 15:01 CDT

LAS VEGAS, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the pioneer and largest provider of retail-based health care in the United States, has opened a new health care center at the CVS/pharmacy store on The Strip (3758 Las Vegas Boulevard South). MinuteClinic launched its first health care center in the Las Vegas market in January at the CVS/pharmacy at Flamingo & Mountain Vista (4595 East Flamingo Rd.) and plans to add two more health care centers at CVS locations in the metropolitan area later this spring.

MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by masters-prepared, board- certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants who specialize in family health care and 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. MinuteClinic also offers common vaccinations, such as influenza, tetanus, MMR, and Hepatitis A & B.

MinuteClinic health care centers in Las Vegas are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MinuteClinic has 163 health care centers in 19 states. In addition to Las Vegas, MinuteClinic health care centers are found in: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Hartford, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, New York City metropolitan area, Northern New Jersey, Orlando, Phoenix, Providence, Raleigh-Durham, Seattle, Southern Connecticut, South Florida, and the Maryland suburbs of the Nation's Capital.

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 of MinuteClinic. "As more patients look to take control of their health care options, we provide a high quality, convenient and affordable service for common maladies that is available seven days a week."

MinuteClinic is working closely with the larger insurance carriers in Nevada to be a participating provider in their networks. For patients who are members of Aetna, CBSA, ChoiceCare Network (PPO) - Humana affiliate, Coventry National Network/First Health Direct (PPO), Great-West Healthcare, Humana (excluding HMO), Medicare, PBA (Preferred Benefit Administrators), and ppoNext insurance plans, MinuteClinic will accept as payment the office visit co-pay indicated on their insurance card. 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 be the easiest pharmacy retailer for customers to use," said Chris Bodine, executive vice president of CVS Corporation and president of CVS Health 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 and physician assistants work in collaboration with physicians and may prescribe medication when clinically appropriate. Kathryn Domenico, nurse practitioner and manager of operations, oversees MinuteClinic locations in Las Vegas. A collaborating physician is on call during all hours of operation.

MinuteClinic practitioners use a software program that at the conclusion of each visit generates educational material, an invoice and a prescription for the patient (when clinically appropriate), as well as a diagnostic record that is automatically sent to the patient's primary care provider's office.

Every MinuteClinic patient assessment and treatment follows nationally established clinical practice guidelines from the Institute of Clinical Systems Improvement, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family physicians that are embedded in the 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 health care centers only serve patients over the age of 18 months.

MinuteClinic services are a complement to primary care providers, and nurse practitioners and physician assistants 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, MinuteClinic nurse practitioners provide a list of physicians in the area who are accepting new patients.

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 (with 48-72 hour culture add $19) $69 -- Swimmer's Ear $59 Additional Treatments -- Flu Diagnosis (ages 10-65) $93 -- Mononucleosis $69 -- Pregnancy Testing $49 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 (Oct-Dec) $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 About MinuteClinic

Minneapolis-based MinuteClinic is a subsidiary of CVS Corporation, the leader in America's retail pharmacy industry with more than 40 years of dynamic growth. 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 150 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 750,000 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 (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 Nevada are operated by MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Nevada.

Contact: Nicole Atkinson TBC Public Relations 410-986-1317 natkinson@tbc.us

MinuteClinic

CONTACT: Nicole Atkinson of TBC Public Relations, +1-410-986-1317, ornatkinson@tbc.us, for MinuteClinic

Source: PRNewswire

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