First MinuteClinic Walk-in Medical Clinics Open in Sacramento Area

PRESS RELEASE

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Aug. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The first MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics in the Sacramento metropolitan area opened today inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Sacramento and Elk Grove. A third clinic is slated to open in Fair Oaks in October.

With the openings, there are now more than 50 MinuteClinic locations in the Golden State in the San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County/Inland Empire and Bay Area markets. The first clinics opened in Southern California in 2007.

Nationwide, MinuteClinic, a division of CVS Caremark Corporation and the largest and fastest growing provider of walk-in retail medical clinics in the U.S., has more than 850 clinics in 29 states and the District of Columbia.

The clinics are open seven days a week with no appointment necessary. Most major health insurance is accepted, including some of the plans offered to employees and retirees from local schools, agencies and California state government through The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). For patients paying cash or credit, treatment prices are posted at each clinic and on www.minuteclinic.com. The cost for most services starts at $79.

"The addition of these new clinics in the Sacramento market expands MinuteClinic's presence in Northern California following the Bay Area launch in fall 2013," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., president, MinuteClinic and senior vice president/associate chief medical officer, CVS Caremark Corporation. "There is a need for more accessible and affordable health care in California, and the demand for MinuteClinic services will grow due, in part, to the shortage of primary care physicians, the aging Baby Boomer population and the influx of newly insured patients through the Affordable Care Act."

MinuteClinic nurse practitioners specialize in family health care and can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions, skin conditions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia and Hepatitis A & B are available at most locations. This includes Tdap boosters required for 7th graders in California and Meningitis and Hepatitis B immunizations for incoming college freshmen. Walk-in camp, sports and college physicals are available daily.

In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series of wellness services designed to help patients identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

MinuteClinic practitioners use a software program that at the conclusion of each visit generates educational material and a prescription (when clinically appropriate) for the patient, as well as a diagnostic record that can be sent via electronic health record, fax or mail to a primary care provider with patient permission.

Sussman says MinuteClinic is committed to helping patients find a medical home and believes it can play a complementary role in working with primary care providers.

"About 50 percent of MinuteClinic visits occur on evenings, weekends and holidays when patients may not be able to get an appointment with their primary care provider," Sussman said. "And about half of the patients seen at MinuteClinic are 'medically homeless' and do not have a personal physician."

Patients who visit MinuteClinic without a primary care provider are provided a list of physicians in the area who are accepting new patients, said Sussman.

The MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics in Sacramento operate from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Now Open:

• Sacramento, 1350 Florin Rd.
• Elk Grove, 5040 Laguna Blvd.

Opening in October:

• Fair Oaks, 8101 Greenback Ln.