WOONSOCKET, R.I., July 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To help
patients prepare for a safe and healthy travel season this summer
and beyond, MinuteClinic, the walk-in medical clinics inside select
CVS Pharmacy and Target stores nationwide, has added several new
travel-related services and immunizations.
"Whether attending the upcoming 2016 Summer Games in
Brazil, performing humanitarian
service in a developing country, preparing for a semester abroad,
or simply enjoying a tropical beach vacation, international
travelers should consider the health risks of the destination they
are visiting and the preventive measures available to avoid harmful
illness and disease," said Angela
Patterson, DNP, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, MinuteClinic's Chief
Nurse Practitioner. "Our new suite of travel-related health
services assists families and individual travelers as they make
plans for overseas trips."
Patients can now see a MinuteClinic nurse practitioner or
physician assistant for a pre-travel risk assessment in advance of
their trip and receive an individualized plan for prevention and
treatment specific to the country they are visiting. Educational
information is provided on health risks, disease outbreaks,
recommended vaccines and preventive measures, including the latest
updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In addition, MinuteClinic nurse practitioners can provide guidance
on prescribed travel-specific medications, over-the-counter
medications, first aid supplies, food and water guidance and even
mosquito bite prevention, if applicable.
Patients can also choose to visit MinuteClinic for individual
travel vaccinations and prescriptions for preventive medications.
MinuteClinic's robust suite of travel health related services
include:
- Typhoid Vaccination: About 22 million cases of typhoid
worldwide are reported annually according to the CDC. Vaccinations,
both oral and injected, now offered at MinuteClinic, reduce the
risk of disease by 50 to 80 percent. Typhoid can cause lasting
fevers, weakness, stomach pains, headaches and other symptoms and
can lead to internal bleeding and death in rare instances. The
vaccine is available to patients older than 24 months in most
states.
- Malaria Prevention: Medications to prevent malaria
infection, a potentially fatal disease transmitted by mosquito
bites, are now available at MinuteClinic. Practitioners will
prescribe the most effective medication based on an assessment of
the overseas destination, season of travel, duration and the
patient's access to medical care. Malaria occurs in many popular
regions including Mexico and
Central America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa,
Eastern Europe and the South
Pacific.
- Hepatitis A Vaccination: Travelers can reduce their risk
of contracting hepatitis A, a liver disease spread by contaminated
food and water, through a series of two vaccinations issued six
months apart at all MinuteClinic locations. According to the CDC,
Hepatitis A is among the most common vaccine-preventable infections
acquired during travel. In the United
States the most frequently identified risk factor for
hepatitis A is international travel.
- Motion Sickness Prevention: Nurse practitioners can
provide customized treatment plans for patients, ages six and up,
reporting a prior history of motion sickness. Treatment options
include over-the-counter medication recommendations and
prescriptions when appropriate. Motion sickness is most common
among children, women and seniors.
- Travelers' Diarrhea Prevention and Treatment:
MinuteClinic practitioners can provide medical advice on
over-the-counter options to pack in the event of illness and can
also provide treatment upon a patient's return.
MinuteClinic is open seven days a week and with no appointment
necessary. A new digital tool accessible via www.minuteclinic.com
allows patients to view wait times at all MinuteClinic locations
and hold a place in line from the convenience of their smartphone,
computer or tablet.
Many travel-related services at MinuteClinic, including
pre-travel risk assessments and typhoid vaccinations, cannot be
billed to insurance. Other services such as hepatitis A
vaccinations and travelers' diarrhea treatment, may be covered
based on the individual patient's insurance plan.
About MinuteClinic
MinuteClinic is the retail medical
clinic of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), the largest pharmacy health
care provider in the United
States. MinuteClinic launched the first retail medical
clinics in the United States in 2000 and is the largest
provider of retail clinics with more than 1,100 locations in 33
states and the District of Columbia. By creating a health care
delivery model that responds to patient demand, MinuteClinic makes
access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans.
Nationally, the company has provided care through more than 30
million patient visits, with a 95 percent customer satisfaction
rating. MinuteClinic is the only retail health care provider to
receive four consecutive accreditations from The Joint Commission,
the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 21,000
health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information,
visit www.minuteclinic.com.
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SOURCE MinuteClinic