This year marks the United States’ 100th Veteran’s Day (originally Armistice Day in 1919),https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp and nearly 90 years since President Herbert Hoover established the Veterans Administration (VA) to consolidate and coordinate government services for veterans.
Since then, the VA has grown into the nation’s largest integrated health care system, with more than 13,200 facilities across the country.https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/division.asp?dnum=1 Given the critical role the VA plays in connecting nine-million U.S. veterans to health care, CVS Health is honored to partner with the agency and help ensure that the men and women who have served our country can access high-quality, affordable care close to home.
Below is a snapshot of how our collaboration with the VA is meeting veterans’ health needs locally.
- 3: Communities expanding local care options to veterans
Because of the high demand for health services, VA health systems are continuously looking for ways to increase convenience and access for those who have served our country. Through MinuteClinic locations in Phoenix, Palo Alto and suburban Los Angeles, CVS Health helps expand access and reduce wait times for veterans needing treatment for non-life-threatening illnesses and conditions. - 40: MinuteClinic locations partnering with the VA
After an initial phone screening by a registered nurse, a veteran can be referred to one of dozens of participating MinuteClinic locations in the three communities for acute treatment and to fill any needed prescriptions on-site at CVS Pharmacy. - 2,800: Veterans receiving integrated care
High-quality coordinated care extends beyond a visit to MinuteClinic through the electronic health record (EHR) system connecting CVS Health data with the VA. With patient consent, participating MinuteClinic locations will electronically share a full record of medical services performed during the patient visit with his or her primary care physician at the VA, eliminating any redundancies or medication conflicts and ensuring continuity of care. - 2.5 Years: Our longest-running access program
While the first partnership program between the VA and MinuteClinic launched in Palo Alto in May 2016, our ongoing commitment to veterans demonstrates a longstanding effort to support the care, professional development and well-being of our nation’s veterans. As we continue our efforts to simplify and integrate affordable care, we anticipate this support will expand and evolve.
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.