Angela Patterson, DNP, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, and Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer of MinuteClinic, offers her thoughts on how MinuteClinic can help close gaps in health care for women.
With the uninsured rate at a record low, more Americans are seeking health care than ever before. That, coupled with the growing shortage of primary care providers and an aging population means there are more people in need of health care services than ever before.
And with so many women juggling family and careers, their own health care often takes a backseat to the needs of others. But even when they carve out time for themselves, many women find it difficult to receive care at a convenient time and location. This is especially challenging for women who have not had a chance to find and establish a relationship with a primary care provider (PCP) or gynecologist.
Focusing On Women’s Health
MinuteClinic has heard from many female patients that they’d be interested in receiving care for additional women’s health concerns at our convenient clinics, in addition to the services we already offered. In response, MinuteClinic has introduced services for women that can make it easier to receive counseling and/or treatment for many common conditions and health care needs.
Women’s health services include:
Birth control care*
Birth control injection*
HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines
Pregnancy testing
Urinary tract, bladder and yeast infection diagnosis and treatment
In 2017, MinuteClinic will be providing services to diagnose and, in some cases, treat sexually transmitted infections. This is in direct response to our patients' request for more access to convenient, high-quality care.
Accessible, Affordable Care for the Whole Family
With more than 1,100 locations in 33 states and the District of Columbia, MinuteClinic’s health care providers are positioned to support health care needs for adults and children. MinuteClinic’s nurse practitioners and physician assistants provide high-quality, compassionate care based on patients’ individual needs, specifically focused on times and locations that are convenient for them.
MinuteClinic accepts most insurance plans and is open seven days a week, including evening and weekends with no appointment necessary. In fact, half of patients are seen on evenings and weekends, when there are few other affordable, convenient options for care. Learn more about MinuteClinic’s health and wellness services for the whole family.
*Birth control care is available to patients over 18 years of age (age 19 in some states). MinuteClinic practitioners can see women who are interested in starting birth control or changing their present method of contraception to develop a customized plan.