PCPs Partner with CVS in New Patient-Centered Campaign

The Health is Primary campaign, created by Family Medicine for America’s Health, a coalition of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Board of Family Medicine, and 6 other associations, has partnered with CVS Health and MinuteClinic to advocate for patient access to coordinated care and primary care providers.  The campaign will also serve to reinforce the role of the primary care provider and patient-centered medical homes.
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“Patients need a regular source of care and they need to know that, wherever they access care, they can be assured of a system that is coordinated and working together to keep them healthy,” said FMAHealth President Glen Stream, MD. “Across the country, CVS Health and its MinuteClinic are already working with primary care providers to strengthen the medical neighborhood. We want to elevate this model of collaboration to ensure that all patients understand and have access to continuous, coordinated care.”

Currently, care providers at CVS’ MinuteClinic ask their patients whether they have a primary care provider, and if they do not, provide patients with a list of local practices. 

Through distribution of patient materials, the coalition hopes to further educate patients on the various resources available through patient-centered medical homes, and how they can access these services.

Dr. Stream noted that retail clinics are especially useful in areas where primary care practices are overwhelmed by demand, and in situations where they can concentrate on treating minor acute illnesses, especially when practices are not open.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Health is Primary. Family physicians join with CVS health to improve coordination across patients’ “medical neighborhood.” [press release]. November 13, 2015. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151113005065/en/.