business
MinuteClinic forges hospital partnership in Phoenix
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 17, 2010
MinuteClinic, the nation's largest retail clinic, has formed a partnership with Catholic Healthcare West's hospitals and medical facilities in the Phoenix area, part of its strategy of aligning with local health systems.
Under the agreement, CHW physicians will serve as medical directors of MinuteClinic locations in the region. MinuteClinic will collaborate with CHW on new monitoring programs it is starting at its clinics, including lab testing for patients with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or asthma. The two also will be mutual referral sources for each other. Later in 2010, the organizations plan to integrate their electronic medical records to streamline patient care.
Since the announcement in February 2009 of a partnership with Cleveland Clinic, MinuteClinic, which is owned by CVS Caremark, has sought additional arrangements with existing health care organizations as a way to attract business year-round.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/05/17/bibf0517.htm.
