CVS Health’s MinuteClinic, Emory Healthcare Network expand primary care access to Georgians

MinuteClinic, the medical clinic inside select CVS Pharmacy locations, and Emory Healthcare Network, a comprehensive clinically integrated network in Georgia, are collaborating to offer in-network adult primary care to most of the network’s health insurance plan holders at all MinuteClinic locations in Georgia.

The expansion of services will provide more Georgians with increased access to primary care options, which can help improve health outcomes. According to research, individuals with a regular primary care physician experience a 33% reduction in healthcare costs and a 19% lower chance of premature death compared to those who only see specialists, Minute Clinic said.

With 35 MinuteClinic locations in Georgia, patients will continue to benefit from same-day access, extended evening and weekend hours and virtual care options, per the retailer. Care coordination will be facilitated through an interoperable electronic health record, allowing for seamless communication and consultation between MinuteClinic providers and Emory clinicians.

[Read more: CVS Health offers MinuteClinic as primary care provider to select Aetna members]

 “With a shortage of primary care physicians and services in Georgia, MinuteClinic’s expansion of primary care, in coordination with the Emory Healthcare Network, will offer additional options for primary and preventive care throughout our larger community,” said Joon S. Lee, CEO of Emory Healthcare. “We continue to look for meaningful ways to broaden access to care in our state.”

MinuteClinic primary care patients also will have access to Emory Healthcare Network’s extensive resources, including hospitals, specialists, diagnostic and radiology facilities and specialty labs, making it easy for patients to receive additional care when needed.

“We are pleased to collaborate further with MinuteClinic to offer in-network adult primary and preventive care through the Emory Healthcare Network,” said Patrick Hammond, CEO of the Emory Healthcare Network. “More Georgians will now be able to access a wealth of services and coordinated care they need through most health insurance plans we support.”

Since 2011, MinuteClinic and Emory have worked together to offer walk-in adult wellness exams or physicals and sick visits at various MinuteClinic locations. MinuteClinic nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers staff the clinics and Emory physicians serve as collaborating physicians for the locations.

[Read more: MinuteClinic debuts inside Manhattan CVS Pharmacy store]

Now, MinuteClinic is expanding to primary care and has introduced new training and care flows for MinuteClinic advanced practice providers, which includes nurse practitioners and physician assistants, to manage end-to-end care with a focus on prevention. This includes regularly scheduled health maintenance visits, recommended screenings and addressing existing chronic conditions. 

“MinuteClinic paved the way for retail clinics more than two decades ago. To meet the needs of the communities we serve, we continue to expand the MinuteClinic model. This includes offering primary care, while still making walk-in care available,” says Creagh Milford, president of retail health at CVS Health. “Joining the Emory Healthcare Network in Georgia as an in-network primary care provider is a significant step in our primary care journey. As our first primary care-specific collaboration with a clinically integrated network, I’m excited to see the positive impact this will have on patient care and community health.”