MinuteClinic, Atlantic Health System form clinical affiliation

WOONSOCKET, R.I., and MORRISTOWN, N.J. — CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has formed a clinical affiliation with Atlantic Health System, one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in New Jersey — comprised of Morristown Medical Center, Goryeb Children's Hospital, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, N.J., and Newton Medical Center — to enhance access to healthcare services in northern and central New Jersey.



The agreement includes nine MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties and parts of Essex county.



Under the agreement, Atlantic Health System physicians will serve as medical directors for MinuteClinic locations in Northern and Central New Jersey. In addition, MinuteClinic and Atlantic Health System will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offers. Atlantic Health System will accept patients who need a level of care that is not provided at MinuteClinic. Signage at MinuteClinic locations will inform patients that each site has a clinical affiliation with Atlantic Health System.



"Our affiliation with Atlantic Health System will help MinuteClinic make the best use of our clinics in Northern and Central New Jersey to offer better access to high quality health care services and to lower costs for patients and employers," said Andrew Sussman, president of MinuteClinic and SVP/associate chief medical officer for CVS Caremark. "We look forward to having Atlantic Health System's physicians collaborate with our practitioners to provide quality oversight, teaching and back-up so we can provide the best care at the lowest overall cost."



MinuteClinic and Atlantic Health System will begin to work toward fully integrating electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of each individual's care. With patient permission, MinuteClinic will electronically share medical histories and visit summaries with other Atlantic Health System locations in Northern and Central New Jersey. 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.

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