Atlantic Health Partners With CVS 'Minute Clinic'

Atlantic Health, whose affiliated hospitals include , Overlook Medical Center in Summit, and Newton Medical Center in Newton, has partnered with CVS' "Minute Clinic" program, in select locations in Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties, and parts of Essex County.

The press release is below:

MinuteClinic, the retailhealth care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) and Atlantic Health System,one of the largest non-profit health care systems in New Jersey comprised ofMorristown Medical Center, Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Overlook Medical Centerin Summit, N.J. and Newton Medical Center have entered into a clinical affiliationto enhance access to high quality, affordable health care services in Northernand Central New Jersey.

The agreement includes nine MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics open sevendays a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Morris, Somerset, Sussexand Union counties and parts of Essex county. The clinics are staffed by nursepractitioners who provide treatment for common family illnesses and administerwellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring.

Under the agreement, Atlantic Health System physicians will serve as medicaldirectors for MinuteClinic locations in Northern and Central New Jersey. Inaddition, MinuteClinic and Atlantic Health System will collaborate on patienteducation and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of theservices each offers. Atlantic Health System will accept patients who needa level of care that is not provided at MinuteClinic. Signage at MinuteCliniclocations will inform patients that each site has a clinical affiliation with AtlanticHealth System.

“Our affiliation with Atlantic Health System will help MinuteClinic make the bestuse of our clinics in Northern and Central New Jersey to offer better access tohigh quality health care services and to lower costs for patients and employers,”said Andrew Sussman, M.D., President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark. “We look forward to havingAtlantic Health System’s physicians collaborate with our practitioners to providequality oversight, teaching and back-up so we can provide the best care at thelowest overall cost.”

MinuteClinic and Atlantic Health System will begin to work toward fully integratingelectronic medical record systems to streamline communication around allaspects of each individual’s care. With patient permission, MinuteClinic willelectronically share medical histories and visit summaries with other AtlanticHealth System locations in Northern and Central New Jersey. In the meantime,MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending patient visit summariesto primary care providers via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours.

“Atlantic Health System is committed to improving the health of ourcommunities,” said Joseph Trunfio, President and CEO of Atlantic HealthSystem. “By providing access to our physicians’ expertise through MinuteClinicservices, we can help members of the community to lead healthier lives, in anew, innovative way.”

MinuteClinic practitioners specialize in family health care and can diagnose,treat and write prescriptions for common illnesses such as strep throat and ear,eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions, skinconditions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such asinfluenza, tetanus, pneumonia, pertussis and Hepatitis A & B are available atmost locations. Walk-in camp, sports and college physicals for adolescents areavailable daily. In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series of wellness servicesdesigned to help consumers identify lifestyle changes needed to improve theircurrent and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, highblood pressure and high cholesterol.

No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance isaccepted. Clinics in New Jersey are open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.