INDIANAPOLIS – Officials say electronic medical record integration is a key benefit of MinuteClinic and Indiana University Health's (IU Health) new clinical affiliation.

Under the agreement, IU Health physicians will serve as medical directors for 19 MinuteClinic locations, including 17 in the Indianapolis area, one in Bloomington and one in West Lafayette. Signage at participating MinuteClinic locations will inform patients that each site has a clinical affiliation with IU Health.

MinuteClinic and IU Health will begin to work toward fully integrating their electronic medical record systems to streamline communication around all aspects of each individual's care. With patient permission, MinuteClinic will share medical histories and visit summaries with other IU Health locations in Indiana. In the meantime, MinuteClinic will continue its standard practice of sending patient visit summaries to primary care providers via fax or mail, typically within 24 hours.

"As we continue to expand the number of clinics and services we offer in the Hoosier state, MinuteClinic shares a common goal with IU Health to make basic medical care more accessible to patients in locations near where they live and work," said Andrew Sussman, MD, president, MinuteClinic and senior vice president/associate chief medical officer, CVS Caremark. "We are excited to be collaborating with IU Health as we mark our eleventh clinical affiliation with a regional health system in the United States."

The affiliation also provides that MinuteClinic and IU Health will collaborate on patient education and disease management initiatives and will inform patients of the services each offers. IU Health will also accept patients who need a level of care that is not provided at MinuteClinic.

"This partnership supports our mission of improving and protecting the health of our patients and Indiana communities," said John F. Fitzgerald, MD, chief executive officer, IU Health Physicians. "Through our collaboration with MinuteClinic, we will complement the role of primary care physicians by offering another convenient access point to high quality, affordable medical care during off-hours and weekends."

MinuteClinic has 21 walk-in medical clinics open seven days a week inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Indiana. The clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners who specialize in family healthcare and can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia, pertussis and Hepatitis A & B are available at most locations. No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance is accepted.