MINUTECLINIC WILL COLLABORATE WITH UCLA HEALTH SYSTEM AT 11 CLINIC LOCATIONS IN L.A. COUNTY ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD INTEGRATION INCLUDED IN AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE CARE COORDINATION. - States News Service

LOS ANGELES -- The following information was released by the University of California Los Angeles:

MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark, and UCLA Health System have entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance access to high quality, affordable health care services in Los Angeles County.

Under the agreement, UCLA Health System physicians will serve as medical directors for 11 MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Los Angeles County. The clinics are in the communities of Agoura, Arcadia, Burbank, Los Angeles (Wellworth Avenue), Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Montrose, Pomona, Reseda, Sherman Oaks and Torrance.

In addition, MinuteClinic and UCLA Health System will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offer. UCLA Health System will provide care to patients who need a level of care that is not provided among MinuteClinic standard services. Signage at MinuteClinic locations will inform patients that each site has a clinical affiliation with UCLA.

'UCLA's international reputation for clinical quality and nearly 60 years of experience in serving the residents of Los Angeles County at the highest level of patient satisfaction were important factors in our decision to affiliate,' said Andrew Sussman, M.D., president of MinuteClinic and senior vice president/associate chief medical officer of CVS Caremark. 'We look forward to having UCLA physicians collaborate with our practitioners to provide quality oversight, teaching and back-up so we can provide the best care at the lowest overall cost.'

MinuteClinic medical clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for common family illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services, including health condition monitoring.

UCLA is one of the most comprehensive and advanced health systems in the world comprised of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center; UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica; the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA; Mattel Children's Hospital, and a wide-reaching network of primary-care physicians and specialty-care offices throughout the region.

'UCLA Health System's purpose is to heal humankind one patient at a time and our commitment is to improve the health of our communities by exploring new and innovative ways to deliver patient care and manage chronic conditions,' said Dr. David Feinberg, president of UCLA Health System and associate vice chancellor. 'By providing access to our physicians' expertise through MinuteClinic services, we can help members of the community to lead healthier lives.'

MinuteClinic and UCLA Health System will begin to work toward fully integrating electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of each individual's care. With patient permission, MinuteClinic will electronically share medical histories and visit summaries with other UCLA Health System locations. In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending patient visit summaries to primary care providers via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours.

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, skin conditions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia, pertussis and Hepatitis A and B are available at most locations. Walk-in camp, sports and college physicals for adolescents are available daily. In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series of wellness services designed to help consumers identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.