I was sick, far from home, and had to figure it out on my own

When Tova Burton left home for college, she felt excited about the opportunities ahead and the chance to take responsibility for her own care. Without a car, however, getting to a doctor or pharmacy meant arranging other transportation, adding time and stress when she was sick.​

“When you first get to college, it can be scary and overwhelming to take care of your own health care,” Tova said. “You’re trying to make friends, go to school and build a life for yourself.”​

During her first year, Tova recognized the telltale tickle of strep throat. As she considered where to go for care, CVS stood out as a familiar option: Her mom had taken the family to MinuteClinic many times while she was growing up in Indiana.​

Tova booked a same-day MinuteClinic appointment online and took the bus to the store, where a nurse practitioner confirmed what she suspected. In the same visit, she picked up her prescription, cough drops and herbal tea before heading home.​

“I felt relieved knowing that I could get everything in one place and that I would have that immediate access to health care,” she said.​

The nurse practitioners welcomed her questions and made her feel comfortable trusting them with her health, reassuring her that she could make informed decisions about her care.​

Today, after earning her master’s degree in public health, dietetics and nutrition in Chapel Hill, Tova continues to rely on CVS Health to manage her care. She uses the CVS Health® app to track her prescriptions and refill dates, then picks up medications and gets vaccinations at a nearby store.​

“It’s easier to feel independent when you know you have a support system,” Tova said. “CVS Health makes managing my health on my own feel much more doable.”