An Innovation in Health Care Opens at CVS/pharmacy Stores in Los Angeles Metro Area

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic (http://www.minuteclinic.com/), the pioneer and largest provider of retail-based health care in the United States, has opened 14 health care centers at CVS/pharmacy stores in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. The company expects to open up to 11 additional locations in the metro area before the end of the year.

MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by master's-prepared, board-certified nurse practitioners who specialize in family health care and are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions 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 is open Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sat.-Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be found inside the following CVS/pharmacy locations:

Los Angeles County - Glendale, 1122 East Broadway - Rededa, 19353 Victory Blvd. Orange County - Aliso Viejo, 26891 Aliso Creek Rd. - Anaheim, 1660 West Katella Ave. - Buena Park, 8850 Valley View St. - Costa Mesa, 1150 Baker St. - Foothill Ranch, 26686 Portola Pkwy. - Huntington Beach, 19121 Beach Blvd. - Irvine, 14330 Culver Drive - Ladera Ranch, 27702 Crown Valley Pkwy. - San Clemente, 638 Camino De Los Mares - Seal Beach, 921 Pacific Coast Highway - Trabuco Canyon, 21572 Plano Trabuco Rd. San Bernardino - Ontario, 2456 S. Grove Ave.

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 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."

In Orange County, MinuteClinic has developed a community educational partnership with St. Joseph Health System, a highly regarded healthcare provider that has fulfilled its mission of improving the health and quality of life of the communities it serves for over 75 years. In addition to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton and St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, St. Joseph Health System provides a host of services including outpatient surgery, rehabilitation services, community clinics, home health and hospice care. St Joseph Health System will collaborate with MinuteClinic on patient and community health care education programs.

"We're excited by this opportunity to team up with MinuteClinic. This partnership supports our goal of expanding access to high quality health care for the people in the communities we serve," said Deborah Proctor, president and CEO of St. Joseph Health System.

MinuteClinic is in-network with the following insurers for patients in the Los Angeles area: Aetna, Assurant Health, Beech Street, CBSA, Choice Care Network (PPO)-Humana affiliate, CIGNA, Humana, Medicare, PBA (Preferred Benefit Administrators), ppoNext (Los Angeles County only), United Healthcare (effective 10/15 in Los Angeles County and 11/1 in Orange and San Bernardino counties). MinuteClinic will accept as payment the office visit co-pay indicated on the patient's 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 improve the lives of those we serve by making innovative and high-quality health and pharmacy services safe, affordable and easy to access," said Chris Bodine, executive vice president of CVS Caremark Corporation and president of CVS Caremark Health Care 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 work in collaboration with physicians and may prescribe medication when it is part of the treatment plan.

MinuteClinic nurse 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 automatically sent to the patient's primary care provider's office. A collaborating physician (medical director) is on call during all hours of operation.

Every MinuteClinic patient assessment and treatment follows nationally established clinical practice guidelines from the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics that are embedded in MinuteClinic's 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 only serves patients over the age of 18 months.

MinuteClinic's services are a complement to primary care providers. MinuteClinic nurse practitioners stress the importance of a regular medical exam with every patient they see. If the individual doesn't have a medical home, they provide a list of physicians in the area who are accepting new patients.

MinuteClinic 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 (additional lab charges may apply) $69 - Swimmer's Ear $59 Additional Services - Flu Diagnosis (ages 10-65) $93 - Camp physicals (select areas only) $25 - Mononucleosis $69 - Pregnancy Testing $49 - Suture removal $59 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 (ages 5+) $69

Vaccines: (Prices vary; vaccines generally have a $0 co-pay for most insurance plans)

- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) $65 - Flu (seasonal) $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 $30 - Polio (IPV) $80 - Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria) $45 - Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) $60 About MinuteClinic

Minneapolis-based MinuteClinic is a subsidiary of CVS Caremark Corporation , the No. 1 provider of prescriptions and related health care services 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 300 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 more than one million 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, 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/ .

About St. Joseph Health System

St. Joseph Health System is an integrated healthcare delivery organization sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. There are more than 20,000 valued employees of St. Joseph Health System. In California, St. Joseph Health System includes: St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Petaluma Valley Hospital, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka and Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, St. Jude Heritage Healthcare, St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare, St. Joseph Home Health Network in Northern California and St. Joseph Home Health Care in Southern California. In addition, SJHS's affiliate, Covenant Health System in Lubbock, Texas, provides health care services throughout west Texas and eastern New Mexico.

MinuteClinic health care centers in Los Angeles County are operated by MinuteClinic Diagnostic Medical Group of California, Inc.

MinuteClinic health care centers in Orange and San Bernardino counties are operated by MinuteClinic Diagnostic Medical Group of Orange County, Inc.