MinuteClinic recognizes National Nurse Practitioner Week
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic is highlighting its support for the education and advancement of clinicians across the country in recognition of National Nurse Practitioner Week, the company said Tuesday.
"Every day, thousands of individuals across the United States see evidence of the compassion, care and patient education provided by nurse practitioners, and we see the appreciation for that care through consistently high customer satisfaction ratings," MinuteClinic president and SVP and associate chief medical officer for parent company CVS Caremark Andrew Sussman said. "As the shortage of primary care physicians continues to grow and nurse practitioners play an even larger role in patient care, we are committed to creating advancement opportunities for clinicians through a growing program of preceptorships, residencies, scholarships and grants."
The company employs more than 2,000 nurse practitioners and physician assistants at more than 600 walk-in medical clinics inside CVS/pharmacy stores, and the company has increased the number of nurse practitioner and physician assistant preceptorships at its clinical from 40 to more than 200, giving graduate-level students the opportunity to observe practitioners, learn clinical skills and see what it's like to work in a retail clinic setting.
The company also funds scholarships at schools and organizations such as the United Negro College Fund and the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professinals and, in September, launched its first nurse practitioner residency program with the school of nursing at the Bouve College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University. In addition, the company funds a grant for nurse practitioners pursuing doctorates and conducting research into community-based health issues through the American Nurses Foundation.
"We are currently working with more than 100 colleges and universities in the United States at various levels to support nurse practitioner and physician assistant education," MinuteClinic chief nurse practitioner officer Paulette Thabault said. "We also believe in the importance of developing new continuing education and research grants for professionals."
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