MinuteClinic, Emory Healthcare form clinical affiliation
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has entered into a clinical affiliation with Emory Healthcare, the largest hospital system in Georgia, to enhance access to healthcare services in communities throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.
MinuteClinic has 31 clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in metro Atlanta.
"We share a common goal with Emory Healthcare to make medical care more accessible and convenient in the Atlanta metro area, where we opened our first Georgia clinic in 2007 and continue to grow with six new clinics in 2011," stated Andrew Sussman, president of MinuteClinic and SVP/associate chief medical officer of CVS Caremark. "As we have experienced with 11 other health system affiliations around the country, this relationship with Emory will enhance our ability to bring high-quality care to patients in MinuteClinic locations in 13 Georgia counties."
Under the agreement, Emory physicians will serve as medical directors for MinuteClinic locations in the metro-Atlanta area. In addition, MinuteClinic and Emory Healthcare will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offers. Emory Healthcare 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 Emory Healthcare.
MinuteClinic and Emory Healthcare will begin to work toward fully integrating their 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 Emory Healthcare locations in Georgia. 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.
The Emory Healthcare system encompasses Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, Wesley Woods Center, The Emory Clinic, Emory Specialty Associates, Emory-Children's Center, Emory-Adventist Hospital and Emory Johns Creek Hospital.