MinuteClinic Opens Its First Walk-in Medical Clinics in Nebraska

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Aug. 7, 2014--The first MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics in Nebraska are opening this week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores. Two clinics opened yesterday in Lincoln and one is opening today in Omaha.  A third clinic in Lincoln and three more clinics in the Omaha area will open later this month.

MinuteClinic, a division of CVS Caremark Corporation and the largest and fastest growing provider of walk-in retail medical clinics in the U.S., now has clinics in 29 states and the District of Columbia.

The MinuteClinic locations are open seven days a week with no appointment necessary. Most major health insurance is accepted. For patients paying cash or credit, treatment prices are posted at each clinic and on www.minuteclinic.com . The cost for most services starts at $79.

"We are excited to bring MinuteClinic's high quality, convenient and affordable medical services to Nebraska, our first expansion state in 2014," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., president, MinuteClinic and senior vice president/associate chief medical officer, CVS Caremark Corporation.  "We anticipate an increasing demand for services in Nebraska and believe MinuteClinic can be part of the solution to help broaden access to care."

MinuteClinic nurse practitioners specialize in family health care and can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions, skin conditions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia and Hepatitis A & B are available at most locations. Walk-in camp, sports and college physicals are available daily.

In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series of wellness services designed to help patients identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

MinuteClinic practitioners use a software program that at the conclusion of each visit generates educational material and a prescription (when clinically appropriate) for the patient, as well as a diagnostic record that can be sent via electronic health record, fax or mail to a primary care provider with patient permission.

Sussman says MinuteClinic is committed to helping patients find a medical home and believes it can play a complementary role in working with primary care providers.

"About 50 percent of our visits occur on evenings, weekends and holidays when patients may not be able to get an appointment with their primary care provider," Sussman said. "And about half of the patients we see at MinuteClinic do not have a personal physician, due in large part to the severe shortage of primary care doctors in the U.S."

Patients who visit MinuteClinic without a primary care provider are provided a list of physicians in the area who are accepting new patients, said Sussman.

The MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics in Nebraska operate from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Now Open:

• Lincoln: 7002 O St.

• Lincoln: 5566 S. 56th St.

• Omaha: 14460 West Maple Rd.

Opening Later in August:

• Omaha:  4840 Dodge St. (Aug. 13)

• Lincoln:  1411 Superior St. (Aug. 20)

• Omaha:  1919 N. 90th St. (Aug. 21)

• LaVista:  6901 S. 84 St. (Aug. 27)

About MinuteClinic MinuteClinic is a division of CVS Caremark Corporation CVS +0.20% , the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States. MinuteClinic launched the first retail medical clinics in the United States in 2000 and is the largest provider of retail clinics with more than 850 locations in 29 states and the District of Columbia. By creating a health care delivery model that responds to patient demand, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. Nationally, the company has provided care through more than 21 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating. MinuteClinic is the only retail health care provider to receive three consecutive accreditations from The Joint Commission, the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com .