Content about Convenient care clinic

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that Walgreens has appointed Alan London as chief medical officer of Take Care Health Systems Consumer Solutions Group is important especially since he is a family physician who has more than three decades of experience in patient care delivery, healthcare strategy and business development, and spent 12 years at Cleveland Clinic.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — At the start of the article titled "Retail Clinics and Drug store Medicine" published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, author Christine Cassell, a physician, acknowledges that retail-based clinics have been "criticized in some quarters" but states that, despite this, the clinics have experienced success by patient satisfaction and quality scores. The fact that this message is coming from a physician makes it especially important.

ALBANY, N.Y. — With state-led Medicaid redesign and federal healthcare delivery reform under way in New York state, the demand for nurse practitioners, physicians assistants and other healthcare professionals is anticipated to continue to increase, according to a recent report by the Healthcare Association of New York State, which is a statewide hospital and continuing care association.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that Take Care Health Systems now enables patients to schedule an appointment online, as well as in the clinic, is important as it further demonstrates the clinic operator’s commitment to delivering convenient access to high-quality, affordable healthcare services. Furthermore, the added convenience comes at a time when the convenient care industry is gearing up for growth.

Since the inception of retail-based health clinics in 2000, the concept has grown to more than 1,300 locations throughout the United States and, in more recent months, has celebrated several significant milestones that prove clinics are not only an integral part of the U.S. healthcare system but also are a viable model for retailers when handled correctly. The real question now: Are we on the brink of clinics version 2.0?


WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The convenient care industry continues to hit noteworthy milestones as it grows and becomes an increasingly important player within the U.S. healthcare system. And now the fellowship of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia has elected its first nurse practitioner to its ranks: Sandy Ryan, chief nurse practitioner officer for Walgreens’ Take Care Health Systems.

NEW YORK — Retail-based health clinics represent a viable business for retailers who locate and correctly manage them, according to Kalorama Information.

The healthcare market research publisher, which is a division of MarketResearch.com, made its assessment based on the recent news that Walmart may dramatically expand its retail clinics offering.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic continues to expand its reach by opening two walk-in medical clinics inside CVS/pharmacy stores in the Savannah, Ga., market.

The clinics, located in Savannah and Richmond Hill, are the first retail medical clinics to open in the region and join 31 other MinuteClinic locations in Georgia situated throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.

The openings are part of MinuteClinic's goal to open 100 walk-in clinics nationwide this year.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — "The axis of the healthcare system is shifting toward more accessible and collaborative models,” and both pharmacists and nurse practitioners are “well-positioned to have a substantial impact in a post-reform environment.” That was a key message that Walgreens chief medical officer Cheryl Pegus had for attendees of Forum 11, the annual meeting of the Care Continuum Alliance in San Francisco on Friday.

The news that MinuteClinic has surpassed 10 million patient visits is important because the pace at which these milestones are occurring speaks volumes to the increased patient acceptance.

(THE NEWS: MinuteClinic surpasses 10 millionth patient visit mark. For the full story, click here.)

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic has surpassed 10 million patient visits since opening its doors in 2000.

The retail clinic operator, which is owned by CVS Caremark, said that the 10 millionth patient was seen at a clinic in Quincy, Mass., one of the communities where MinuteClinic has opened new locations in the past 18 months.