Patients prioritize trust in health care delivery when selecting care in their communities. As a front door to health care, CVS Health is committed to serving as a knowledgeable and reliable health resource in communities nationwide.
From assistance with prescriptions to treating minor illnesses and complex conditions, we offer meaningful touchpoints with health care providers across the continuum of care. Below are three key ways we are enabling real-time, high-quality interactions between patients and providers.
Delivering Medication Support from Start to Finish
With an estimated annual cost of $290B, non-adherence is an expensive problem for the health care system.http://www.nehi.net/bendthecurve/sup/documents/Medication_Adherence_Brief.pdf CVS Health’s 30,000 pharmacists provide comprehensive medication support, helping to ensure that patients can afford their prescriptions and also take them as directed. For example:
When a patient brings their prescription to be filled, CVS Health’s pharmacists use the Rx Savings Finder tool to review a patient’s prescription regimen, medication history and insurance plan at the pharmacy counter to determine the best way to save money on out-of-pocket costs.
CVS Health’s pharmacists provide ongoing medication counseling to help patients better understand their prescription medications, as well as recommend pharmacy services, such as automatic refills or prescription consolidation programs like ScriptSync that result in fewer trips to the pharmacy.
With 117 million Americans currently living with a chronic health condition and nearly 90 percent managing their disease with prescription medications, medication adherence is critical to preventing diseases from worsening. CVS Health’s pharmacists offer personalized support for CVS Caremark members through Pharmacy Advisor, a program that engages patients diagnosed with chronic conditions either face-to-face or by phone.
Managing Health and Wellness Needs 24 hours a Day, Seven Days a Week
It’s not always easy or practical for patients to fit health services into their daily schedules. That’s why CVS Health provides extended hours and technological solutions to help patients receive care when they need it.
The 125 health services offered at our 1,100 MinuteClinic locations are available during extended hours. These services are delivered by nurse practitioners and physician assistants who are compassionate and highly qualified. In fact, MinuteClinic was the first retail clinic to receive a Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission – helping provide peace of mind that care delivered conveniently can also be high-quality.
We’re also leveraging technology to help patients interact with providers around the clock. For example, we recently launched a virtual health care offering through MinuteClinic that directly connects patients to providers via mobile phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Through this, a provider can assess a patient’s condition and determine the appropriate course of treatment following evidence-based clinical care guidelines.
Supporting Patients with Complex Health Conditions
Five percent of the U.S. population drives about 50 percent of total health care spending, with many of these patients dealing with complex conditions often requiring hospitalization. CVS Health recognizes that improving care outside of the hospital setting for these patients is an important step toward improving health outcomes and reducing preventable hospitalization and readmissions:
Through Omnicare, CVS Health offers personalized pharmacy support at post-acute care and senior living facilities.
Coram CVS Specialty Infusion Services includes a clinical team of nurses, dietitians and pharmacists who deliver infusion therapies, education and support services to more than 50,000 patients each month.
CVS Health’s Specialty Connect™ prescription services program offers patients with complex conditions greater choice and flexibility to help them access their specialty medications and expert clinical support.
For more information about CVS Health’s efforts to improve access to quality care across the nation, visit our Quality & Access information center and the CVS Health Impact Dashboard. To stay informed about the latest updates and innovations from CVS Health, register for content alerts and our bi-weekly health care newsletter.