CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic reaches 20M patient visits

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has surpassed 20 million patient visits since opening the nation's first store-based clinic in 2000, the company has announced.



Significant continued growth is anticipated in the coming years with the demand for more accessible and affordable health care services as a result of the Affordable Care Act, the primary care provider shortage and an aging Baby Boomer population.



To meet the growing demand, MinuteClinic expects to add 150 new clinic locations in 2014 in both existing and expansion markets, including those in several new states: Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. As previously reported by Drug Store News, MinuteClinic projects to have 1,500 clinics nationwide by 2017.



"With the first open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act now complete, it is evident that there are a number of market factors that are going to put even more pressure on our system to deliver timely and convenient care at rates that are affordable for consumers and third-party payers," stated Andrew Sussman, president, MinuteClinic and SVP/associate chief medical officer, CVS Caremark. "By continuing to expand in both clinic locations and services, we believe MinuteClinic is well positioned to meet this demand and support the work of primary care providers with innovative choices for care delivered in the retail setting."



In addition to clinic growth, MinuteClinic now has affiliations with 32 major health systems around the country. These affiliations include physician medical director collaboration, integration of electronic medical records and joint clinical programs.



"Behind this important milestone is a team of 2,500 practitioners and countless others in our organization who make it possible for MinuteClinic to deliver consistent, high-quality care 365 days a year," Sussman added. "And we are deeply appreciative of the continued support and feedback from our valued patients as MinuteClinic grows and evolves in its mission to improve health care delivery in the communities we serve."