WOONSOCKET, R.I., Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the largest and fastest growing provider of retail medical clinics in the United States, has opened its first walk-in clinics in the Corpus Christi metropolitan area inside two CVS/pharmacy stores in Corpus Christi and Portland. A third clinic will open in Corpus Christi in December.

The clinics are part of MinuteClinic's national expansion plan to add 150 new clinics nationwide in 2014. With the Corpus Christi-area openings, there are now more than 80 MinuteClinic locations in Texas, including clinics in the Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio metropolitan areas.

MinuteClinic is open seven days a week with no appointment necessary. Most major health insurance is accepted. For patients paying cash or credit, treatment prices are posted at each clinic and on www.minuteclinic.com. The cost for most services starts at $79.

"Since opening our first store-based clinics in Texas in 2006, we have helped to expand access to high quality, convenient medical care to thousands of Texas residents who have visited us at convenient CVS/pharmacy store locations near where they live and work," said Andrew Sussman, M.D., president, MinuteClinic and senior vice president/associate chief medical officer, CVS Health. "We believe MinuteClinic can be part of the solution to help broaden access to affordable medical care in Nueces and San Patricio counties."

MinuteClinic nurse practitioners and physician assistants specialize in family health care 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, skin conditions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumonia and Hepatitis A & B are available at most locations.

In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series of wellness services designed to help patients identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and face-to-face smoking cessation and weight loss management counseling.

MinuteClinic practitioners use a software program that at the conclusion of each visit generates educational material and a prescription (when clinically appropriate) for the patient, as well as a diagnostic record that can be sent via electronic health record, fax or mail to a primary care provider with patient permission.

Sussman says MinuteClinic is committed to helping patients find a medical home and believes it can play a complementary role in working with primary care providers.

"About 50 percent of MinuteClinic visits occur on evenings, weekends and holidays when patients may not be able to get an appointment with their primary care provider," Sussman said. "And about half of the patients seen at MinuteClinic are 'medically homeless' and do not have a personal physician."

Patients who visit MinuteClinic without a primary care provider are provided a list of physicians in the area who are accepting new patients, said Sussman.

The MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics in the Corpus Christi area operate from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Now Open:


    --  Portland, 1627 Wildcat Dr. (opened 9/10)
    --  Corpus Christi, 7442 South Staples St. (opened 9/24)

Opening in December 2014:


    --  Corpus Christi, 4166 South Staples St.

About MinuteClinic
 CVS/minuteclinic is a division 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 900 locations in 30 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 21 million patient visits, with a 95% customer satisfaction rating. MinuteClinic is the only retail health care provider to receive three consecutive accreditations from The Joint Commission, the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com.

SOURCE MinuteClinic