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WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic has announced a new initiative with the Department of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System to expand access to health care services for veterans in Northern California.
Through this initiative, more than 60,000 veterans enrolled in the VA Palo Alto HCS can now be referred to MinuteClinic for acute health services.
“We are pleased to announce this new initiative with the VA Palo Alto Health Care System,” said Dr. Andrew Sussman, executive vice president and associate chief medical officer at CVS Health. “Through this arrangement, MinuteClinic and the VA Palo Alto will join forces to provide veterans in Northern California with additional options for high-quality clinical services. We’re committed to providing top-notch care to the area’s veterans, and this relationship will allow us to do so in locations and at times that are convenient for the VA’s patients.”
VA Palo Alto HCS consists of three inpatient facilities located at Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Livermore, plus seven outpatient clinics in San Jose, Fremont, Capitola, Monterey, Stockton, Modesto and Sonora.
Veterans who call the VA Palo Alto’s Nurse Helpline can be referred to one of 14 area MinuteClinic locations for treatment of common illnesses. In addition, veterans who are written a prescription at a MinuteClinic visit will be able to fill it at CVS Pharmacy.
“This program reaffirms our commitment to access through innovation and flexible health care delivery,” said Dr. Stephen Ezeji-Okoye, deputy chief of staff, VA Palo Alto Health Care System. “The diverse geography of our veteran population requires us to think about access as providing the right care at the right place at the right time — as defined by the veteran. We are particularly excited about working with MinuteClinic because they share our commitment to high-quality care and our belief in meeting veterans’ needs as efficiently and effectively as possible.”
MinuteClinic and the VA Palo Alto will utilize an interconnected electronic medical record system that will advance clinical care for the veterans treated through the arrangement. After patient consent, participating MinuteClinic locations will electronically send patient visit summaries to the patient’s primary care physician at the VA. If more comprehensive care is needed, veterans will be directed to follow up with their VA primary care provider for additional services as appropriate.
“By allowing our electronic health records to communicate and share important clinical information, we’ll have a more comprehensive view of the veterans we collectively serve, which will enable important health care decision making and ensure continuity of care,” added Sussman, who is also Minute Clinic president.
The VA will reimburse CVS for the treatment and medications in the pilot program, which is expected to be evaluated in about a year.
