WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic has formed a clinical affiliation with OU Physicians, Oklahoma’s largest physician group with more than 560 doctors.
The CVS Caremark retail health clinic subsidiary said Tuesday that under the agreement, OU Physicians doctors will serve as medical directors for MinuteClinic locations in Oklahoma.
The pact covers four MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside CVS/pharmacy stores in Edmond, Moore, Mustang and Norman, Okla. The clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for common family illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring.
In addition, MinuteClinic and OU Physicians will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and inform patients of the services each offers. OU Physicians will accept patients who need a level of care not provided at MinuteClinic. Signage at MinuteClinic locations will inform patients that each site has a clinical affiliation with OU Physicians.
"MinuteClinic shares OU Physicians’ commitment to clinical quality and expanding access to care to patients throughout central Oklahoma," MinuteClinic president Andrew Sussman, who is also senior vice president and associate chief medical officer at CVS Caremark, said in a statement. "We look forward to collaborating with their doctors who will provide quality oversight, teaching and backup so MinuteClinic can provide the best care to Oklahomans at the lowest overall cost."
MinuteClinic said it will work with OU Physicians to integrate electronic medical record systems to facilitate communication around patient care. With patient permission, MinuteClinic will electronically share medical histories and visit summaries with other OU Physicians locations in the state.
"At OU Physicians, we are committed to providing high-quality health care to Oklahomans, and in today’s rapidly changing health care environment, it is critical to explore smart, innovative ways to improve our citizens’ access to necessary treatments and preventive care," stated Brian Maddy, chief executive officer of OU Physicians. "By joining forces with MinuteClinic and sharing our expertise, we can deliver much-needed care to a larger population of patients and make sure more Oklahomans get the resources they need to lead healthier lives."
