Walgreens has gotten a jump-start on retail clinics in the Memphis market, but more chain stores are likely to begin offering the service, which has its fans and critics.

Walgreens in September opened four Take Care Clinics in the Memphis metropolitan area and plans to add another four. Wal-Mart could be next through a partnership with RediClinic. Another service, MinuteClinic, has set up operations in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville.

These clinics offer vaccinations, physical examinations, some prescriptions and other health care services with convenience and savings. No appointment is necessary. The average fee for basic services at a Take Care Clinic is between $59 and $74 for cash payers or whatever an insurance co-pay is. A flu vaccination in Memphis costs $25 with no office fee.

Read the rest of this entry »

People who are ill can get a checkup just by showing up at the Westford CVS.

MinuteClinic, the pioneer and largest provider of retail-based health care in the United States, opened its center at the CVS/pharmacy at Westford Marketplace.

“Our mission is to provide high quality care for simple illnesses in a convenient and timely manor,” said Richard Arnold, Manager of MinuteClinic operations north of Boston.

MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by master’s-prepared, board-certified nurse practitioners who specialize in family health care and are trained to diagnose, treat and prescribe medication when it is part of a treatment plan for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, and bronchial infections.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Troyen A. “Troy” Brennan, a former hospital administrator and chief medical officer at insurance giant Aetna Inc., has been selected by CVS Caremark Corp. for the new post of executive vice president and chief medical officer.

“Troy Brennan is a highly regarded national health care expert who not only understands the challenges of health care today, but has hands-on experience with all aspects of the health care delivery system,” Chairman, CEO and President Thomas M. Ryan said yesterday in the after-market announcement.

His experience – “as a former practicing physician, hospital administrator with background in quality-care measurement and leader of a top health care insurer” – “will help strengthen our company’s integrated approach to improving access, affordability and quality of care,” Ryan added. “He is a great addition to our management team.”

Read the rest of this entry »

CVS Caremark Corp. has picked a CVS store on Grove Street in Braintree as the place to open its first quick-service medical clinic in Norfolk County.

A 145-square-foot CVS MinuteClinic in Braintree and a clinic in Medford both opened for customers Wednesday. That brings the number of MinuteClinics in the state to 10.

CVS has been adding clinics since September, when it opened its first MinuteClinic in Medway. The Woonsocket, R.I.-based pharmacy chain has opened a few clinics south of Boston in recent weeks, including ones in Brockton, Taunton and Bridgewater.

Read the rest of this entry »

The CVS pharmacy chain is hoping that an ambitious flu vaccination program will provide a shot in the arm in another way — by drawing first-time customers to its stores and clinics.

With a goal of delivering 1 million flu shots this year, the company recently launched a high-profile advertising campaign that, for the first time, puts its MinuteClinic outlets front and center.

National TV ads promoting the flu vaccinations began airing in October and showed up during such marquee broadcasts as the Major League Baseball playoffs. The company declined to say how much it had spent on the campaign, which centers on prime-time television with some radio and print.

“We’re trying to build awareness of MinuteClinic,” said Bari Harlam, vice president of pharmacy marketing for CVS Caremark Corp.

Read the rest of this entry »

Health care in the express lane is what you can anticipate when you head to the Minute Clinic.

“How about five minutes? That’s what it’s taking people to come in, sign-in and get a flu shot,” said nurse practitioner Nina Ellison.

And in that five minutes, Hampton checks in, receives treatment and is off to enjoy the rest of his day.

“It was very quick, very smooth and very easy,” said Hampton.

The idea behind the fast health care center is to allow patients to come in, consult with a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner, like Nina Ellison, without having to lose an entire day.

Read the rest of this entry »