CVS Health marks 1 year of Arizona VA, TriWest program
CVS Health has offered an update on its joint initiative between the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and TriWest Healthcare Alliance as it marks the first year of the collaboration. In the past year, the company said 1,500 veterans have been treated at the 25 participating Phoenix-area MinuteClinic locations.
“We are thrilled with the success of the partnership between VA and MinuteClinic,” said RimaAnn Nelson, Phoenix VA Health Care System director. “To give the veteran the ability to seek care for minor conditions and illnesses at a MinuteClinic means increased access, not only for those going to MinuteClinic, but also for those with more serious illnesses and injuries who need a higher level of care in our Emergency Department. Feedback we have received from veterans who have taken advantage of this partnership has been extremely and consistently positive.”
Through the partnership, VAHCS nurses can connect veterans to MinuteClinic for treatment of minor illnesses or injuries, if they deem it clinically appropriate, through the Veterans Choice program. Veterans have been treated for such ailments as bronchitis, the flu and minor skin conditions, with them waiting roughly 30 minutes on average, CVS Health said.
“We are pleased to have been able to introduce Phoenix-area veterans to MinuteClinic this past year,” MinuteClinic vice president of clinical transformation and medical oversight Tobias Barker said. “At MinuteClinic, we are committed to ensuring that the veterans we serve receive high-quality and convenient health care when they need it and where they want it.”
MinuteClinic shares veterans’ visit summaries with their primary care physician in an effort to better coordinate care, CVS Health said, noting that it offers up-to-date clinical information for potential follow-up appointments. Patients are able to call the Phoenix VA Healthcare System’s Help Line to refer them to a MinuteClinic location, with the system noting that it expanded the hours of the line to offer more access for patients on evenings and weekends.
“We are thrilled with the success of the partnership between VA and MinuteClinic,” said RimaAnn Nelson, Phoenix VA Health Care System director. “To give the veteran the ability to seek care for minor conditions and illnesses at a MinuteClinic means increased access, not only for those going to MinuteClinic, but also for those with more serious illnesses and injuries who need a higher level of care in our Emergency Department. Feedback we have received from veterans who have taken advantage of this partnership has been extremely and consistently positive.”
Through the partnership, VAHCS nurses can connect veterans to MinuteClinic for treatment of minor illnesses or injuries, if they deem it clinically appropriate, through the Veterans Choice program. Veterans have been treated for such ailments as bronchitis, the flu and minor skin conditions, with them waiting roughly 30 minutes on average, CVS Health said.
“We are pleased to have been able to introduce Phoenix-area veterans to MinuteClinic this past year,” MinuteClinic vice president of clinical transformation and medical oversight Tobias Barker said. “At MinuteClinic, we are committed to ensuring that the veterans we serve receive high-quality and convenient health care when they need it and where they want it.”
MinuteClinic shares veterans’ visit summaries with their primary care physician in an effort to better coordinate care, CVS Health said, noting that it offers up-to-date clinical information for potential follow-up appointments. Patients are able to call the Phoenix VA Healthcare System’s Help Line to refer them to a MinuteClinic location, with the system noting that it expanded the hours of the line to offer more access for patients on evenings and weekends.