MinuteClinic announces clinical collaboration with Inova

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic division has announced a clinical collaboration with northern Virginia healthcare provider Inova Health System to enhance healthcare services provided in communities throughout Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties.

Inova operates a network of hospitals, outpatient services and healthcare centers that includes Inova Alexandria, Inova Fairfax, Inova Fair Oaks, Inova Loudoun and Inova Mount Vernon hospitals, and Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children.

MinuteClinic has 14 in-store health clinics throughout northern Virginia.

"Inova has a long-standing record of clinical quality and is one of the mid-Atlantic's premier health systems," stated Andrew Sussman, president of MinuteClinic, and SVP and associate medical officer for CVS Caremark. "Like MinuteClinic, it shares a commitment to expanding access to care for the millions of residents living in northern Virginia, and it has developed several leading initiatives with the region's top corporations to improve the health of their employees. We think MinuteClinic can be a valuable addition to these programs that promote employee wellness and lower healthcare costs."

Under the agreement, Inova will ensure that there is a collaboration with MinuteClinic's medical directors, many of whom include Inova-affiliated family physicians. In addition, MinuteClinic and Inova also will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives, and will inform patients of the services each offers. Inova 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 Inova.

MinuteClinic and Inova will begin to work toward fully integrating their electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of each individual's care.