When CVS Health completed its acquisition of Aetna in November 2018, it set a bold course to transform the consumer health care experience in America. Today, the combined company is taking an accelerated step in its work by announcing a significant expansion of HealthHUB locations at CVS Pharmacy stores across the country.
Building on the success and customer response to its HealthHUB pilot in Houston, the company will open additional locations in Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, southern New Jersey and Tampa this year, and plans to have 1,500 HealthHUB locations operating by the end of 2021.
“Improving health outcomes starts with transforming the consumer health experience, connecting with people in their communities. Through physical and virtual interactions, we provide convenient, personalized and integrated access to health care support and services,” said Alan Lotvin, M.D., Chief Transformation Officer for CVS Health. “Our HealthHUBs in Houston are generating tremendously positive customer response. The opportunity to engage with a team of in-store and remote colleagues, including pharmacists, nurse practitioners, care managers and support staff resonates with consumers. We’re thrilled to be creating this seamless, long overdue experience that consumers want.”
For the past six months, the company has been piloting three HealthHUB locations in Houston that offer a broader range of health care services, new product categories, digital and on-demand health tools, trusted advice and personalized care. With the new format more than 20% of the store is now dedicated to health services, including new durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies and new product and service combinations for sleep apnea and diabetes care.
With personalized Pharmacy support programs and expanded MinuteClinic services, HealthHUB teams are improving care for patients managing chronic conditions, with a focus on recommending next best clinical actions and driving medical costs savings. The HealthHUB store format also includes a variety of pathways to nutritional health with one-on-one and group counseling delivered by an in-store dietitian, as well as access to weight loss programs.
Acting as the connection point inside the HealthHUB is the care concierge, a newly established role responsible for customer engagement, including educating customers about our new service offerings, helping them navigate the in-store services and events, and connecting them to our in-store providers.
“Our HealthHUBs are generating tremendously positive customer response. We’re thrilled to be creating this seamless, long overdue experience that consumers want.”
– Alan Lotvin, M.D., Chief Transformation Officer
The design of the HealthHUB also includes community spaces and digitally enabled offerings. Wellness rooms are available for CVS professionals and community partners to host group events, including health classes, nutritional seminars and benefits education. In addition, there are learning tables that include iPads for customers to explore health and wellness apps, as well as shop our expanded product selection on cvs.com.
“Most of the time, I would run into the CVS Pharmacy when I was sick or just needed a few convenience items,” said Jacqueline H., a longtime CVS Pharmacy customer and Houston resident. “I was quite surprised with all of the health and wellness products, support services and community events inside the store. HealthHUB makes you want to be healthy and stay healthy.”
For Kevin Hourican, Executive Vice President, CVS Health and President of CVS Pharmacy, the HealthHUB format marks a forward leap in what’s already a revolution in health care.
“We have a sense of urgency about the need to bring real change to health care,” said Hourican. “What’s clear to us is that it will take more than incremental steps to fix what is broken in the health care system. That’s why we’re excited about how the combination of CVS and Aetna can establish an innovative health care model that will create an entirely new consumer experience and help people on their path to better health.”
