In April 2017, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a new initiative between the Phoenix VA Health Care System (VA HCS) and MinuteClinic that will expand access to high-quality, convenient health care services for Veterans in Phoenix and surrounding communities. Through this initiative, Phoenix VA HCS nurses, when clinically appropriate, will now be able to refer Veterans to MinuteClinic through the Veterans Choice Program for the treatment of acute health care services.
“I’ve long believed that Veterans in need of routine health care services should not have to wait in line for weeks to get an appointment when they can visit community health centers like MinuteClinic to receive timely and convenient care,” said U.S. Senator John McCain. “Thanks to the leadership of CVS Health and the VA, Phoenix’s nearly 120,000 Veterans will now be served at 24 different area MinuteClinic locations for minor health care services.”
Veterans who call the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center VA Help Line at 602 222-6550 or 888-214-7264 (toll free) can be referred to one of the 24 MinuteClinic locations in the Phoenix area for treatment of common illnesses. Additionally, Veterans who receive a prescription during their MinuteClinic visit will be able to fill it at CVS Pharmacy, if they choose.
To facilitate care coordination for Veterans, the partnership will use an interconnected electronic health record (EHR) system that proved successful in a similar program launched in 2016 with the Palo Alto VA Health Care System.
Nurse practitioners at MinuteClinic specialize in family health care and can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions, as appropriate, for common family illnesses such as strep throat; ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections; nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; and heartburn and indigestion. Minor wounds, abrasions, skin conditions, sprains and strains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia and Hepatitis A and B are available at most locations. MinuteClinic is open seven days a week and no appointment is necessary.
