MinuteClinic Recognizes National Nurse Practitioner Week and
Invests in the Education and Advancement of Clinicians Across the
U.S.
WOONSOCKET, R.I., Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration
of National Nurse Practitioner Week (Nov.
11-17), MinuteClinic, the nation's largest provider of
retail-based medical clinics, salutes the outstanding patient care
delivered by nurse practitioners and continues to expand its role
as a leader in creating educational and career development
opportunities for members of the profession.
"Every day, thousands of individuals across the United States see evidence of the
compassion, care and patient education provided by nurse
practitioners, and we see the appreciation for that care through
consistently high customer satisfaction ratings," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic
and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer of CVS
Caremark. "As the shortage of primary care physicians continues to
grow and nurse practitioners play an even larger role in patient
care, we are committed to creating advancement opportunities for
clinicians through a growing program of preceptorships,
residencies, scholarships and grants."
MinuteClinic employs more than 2,000 nurse practitioners and
physician assistants who treat patients at more than 600 walk-in
medical clinics inside CVS/pharmacy stores in 25 states and the
District of Columbia.
In the past year, MinuteClinic has increased the number of nurse
practitioner and physician assistant preceptorships at its clinics
from 40 to more than 200. Spanning from a semester to a full
academic year, the preceptorships give graduate-level students the
opportunity to observe practitioners, learn clinical skills and see
what it's like to work in a retail clinic setting.
In addition, MinuteClinic launched its first nurse practitioner
residency program in September in conjunction with the school of
nursing at the Bouve College of Health
Sciences at Northeastern University. The program supports
eight new graduates in their first year of practice as they
transition from the classroom to the professional role. It includes
educational modules and mentor-supported clinical practice to
further build on the practitioners' medical and career skills.
"We are currently working with more than 100 colleges and
universities in the United States
at various levels to support nurse practitioner and physician
assistant education," said Paulette
Thabault, Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer, MinuteClinic.
"We also believe in the importance of developing new continuing
education and research grants for professionals."
MinuteClinic helps to fund scholarships at several schools and
organizations including the United Negro College Fund and the
Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professionals,
and it supports the work of the American Academy of Nurse
Practitioners, American College of Nurse Practitioners and American
Nurses Association among others.
Through the American Nurses Foundation, MinuteClinic helps to
fund a grant for nurse practitioners who are pursuing their
doctorate and conducting research into community-based health
issues. In addition, MinuteClinic supports members of its
practitioner team who are conducting research as part of their
doctorate studies through a series of select grants issued by an
internal review board.
MinuteClinic medical clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners
and physician assistants who specialize in family health care and
can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family
illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and
bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions, skin conditions and
joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as
influenza, tetanus, pneumonia and hepatitis A & B are available
at most locations. Walk-in camp, sports, college and DOT physicals
are available daily. In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series
of wellness services designed to help consumers identify lifestyle
changes needed to improve their current and future health,
including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, high blood
pressure and high cholesterol.
MinuteClinic 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 sent via electronic health
record, fax or mail to a primary care provider with patient
permission.
MinuteClinic is open seven days a week, including weekday
evening hours. No appointment is necessary, and most health care
insurance is accepted. For patients paying cash or credit,
treatment prices are posted at each clinic and on
www.minuteclinic.com. The cost for most services starts at
$79.
About MinuteClinic
MinuteClinic is a division of CVS
Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS), the largest pharmacy health care
provider in the United States.
MinuteClinic launched the first retail medical clinics in
the United States in 2000 and is
the largest provider of retail clinics with more than 600 locations
in 25 states and the District of
Columbia. By creating a health care delivery model that
responds to consumer demand, MinuteClinic makes access to
high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans.
Nationally, the company has generated more than 13 million patient
visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating. MinuteClinic is
the only retail health care provider to receive three consecutive
accreditations 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