MinuteClinic Salutes Nurse Practitioners During National Nurse Practitioner Week

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of National Nurse Practitioner Week (Nov. 13 – 19), MinuteClinic applauds the outstanding patient-centered care delivered by practitioners across the United States and supports their role in helping to create broader access to high-quality, affordable medical treatment as the nation's primary care shortage grows.

MinuteClinic, the retail clinic division of CVS Caremark Corporation, is one of the largest employers of nurse practitioners in the United States.  Nurse practitioners and physician assistants serve patients at more than 600 MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in 25 states and the District of Columbia.

"Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are at the core of the MinuteClinic model which relies on the outstanding care and educational support they provide to patients in our convenient retail settings," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer of CVS Caremark. "We have a tremendous practitioner team that I truly believe is unrivaled in today's health care industry. Their role in treating patients and teaching and counseling individuals on how to make healthy lifestyle changes will become even more important as we expand our portfolio of prevention and wellness services."

MinuteClinic supports the work of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association and academic medical institutions across the United States in helping to educate student and practicing nurses and nurse practitioners.

"With the addition of 32 million newly insured patients as a result of health care reform and the growing shortage of primary care physicians, nurse practitioners are one of the fastest growing professions not only in health care but in any industry today," said Paulette Thabault, APN-BC, JD, Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer of MinuteClinic. "We salute the universities and professional associations who are helping to grow and advance our field through teaching, research and training. And I thank my nurse practitioner colleagues and physician assistants at MinuteClinic for their commitment to the patients they serve and their dedication in fulfilling our mission to improve access to high quality health care in communities across the country."

MinuteClinic nurse practitioners 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. In addition, MinuteClinic practitioners administer 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.

No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance is accepted. For patients paying cash or credit, treatment prices are posted at each medical center and on www.minuteclinic.com. The cost for most treatment 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 patient needs, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. Nationally, the company has generated more than 10.5 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating. MinuteClinic consistently brings innovation to the marketplace and sets new standards for clinical quality that exceed national guidelines. MinuteClinic is the first retail health care provider to receive accreditation (2006) and reaccreditation (2009) 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

Carolyn Castel, CVS Caremark, +1-401-770-5717, [email protected] or Brent Burkhardt, TBC (for MinuteClinic), +1-410-986-1303, [email protected]