CVS Caremark MinuteClinic, Indiana University Health Announce Clinical Affiliation

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MinuteClinic, the retail healthcare division of CVS Caremark and Indiana University Health (IU Health), the largest and most comprehensive health system in Indiana, announced yesterday that they have entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance access to the high quality, affordable healthcare services they provide in communities throughout the state of Indiana [1]. The affiliation allows the organizations to work together in a more coordinated and integrated fashion to provide better care of patients with chronic diseases.

Andrew Sussman, M.D., president, MinuteClinic and senior vice president/associate chief medical officer, CVS Caremark, said [1]:

As we continue to expand the number of clinics and services we offer in the Hoosier state, MinuteClinic shares a common goal with IU Health to make basic medical care more accessible to patients in locations near where they live and work. We are excited to be collaborating with IU Health as we mark our eleventh clinical affiliation with a regional health system in the United States.

MinuteClinic and IU Health will jointly commit to adhering to best practice, evidence-based care to improve outcomes of patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart failure, and others. Under the agreement, IU Health physicians will serve as medical directors for 19 MinuteClinic locations in Indiana, including 17 in the Indianapolis area, one in Bloomington and one in West Lafayette.

MinuteClinic and IU Health will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives. For example, the effective management of many conditions requires good adherence to medication regimens. MinuteClinic personnel will help provide patient education and work on strategies for improving patients’ adherence to prescribed treatments. IU Health will accept patients who need a level of care that is not provided at MinuteClinic. Each organization will inform patients of the services the other offers.

In addition, MinuteClinic and IU Health will work toward fully integrating their electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of each individual’s care. With patient permission, MinuteClinic will share medical histories and visit summaries with other IU Health locations in Indiana. In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending patient visit summaries to primary care providers via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours.

John F. Fitzgerald, MD, chief executive officer, IU Health Physicians said [1]:

This partnership supports our mission of improving and protecting the health of our patients and Indiana communities. Through our collaboration with MinuteClinic, we will complement the role of primary care physicians by offering another convenient access point to high quality, affordable medical care during off-hours and weekends.

In January 2011, Clarian Health became Indiana University Health. Indiana University Health (IU Health) is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care; IU Health includes ownership or affiliation with more than 20 hospitals and health centers throughout Indiana. For the 14th consecutive year, IU Health-Indiana University School of Medicine specialty programs have ranked among the nation’s top programs in U.S. News Media & World Report’s Best Hospital rankings.

CVS Caremark MinuteClinic launched the first retail healthcare centers in the United States in 2000 and is the first provider to establish a national presence, with nearly 600 locations in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Since April 2010, MinuteClinic has established partnerships with 11 health organizations, including:

Cleveland Clinic (Northern Ohio and South Florida)
Ohio Health (Central Ohio)
Henry Ford Health System (Detroit)
Advocate Health Care (Chicagoland and central Illinois)
Allina Hospitals & Clinics (Minnesota and Western Wisconsin)
Inova Health System (Northern Virginia)
Catholic Healthcare West (Phoenix)
St. Rose Dominican (Las Vegas)
St. Vincent’s (Jacksonville)

By creating a healthcare 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 10 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating.