WOONSOCKET, R.I., Dec. 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — MinuteClinic,
the pioneer and largest provider of retail-based medical clinics in
the United States, has entered into an agreement with the National
Patient Safety Foundation to become the nation’s first retail
clinic provider to implement the Ask Me 3 health literacy
program.
MinuteClinic will launch the program in early 2011 in its
approximately 500 medical clinics located inside select
CVS/pharmacy stores in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
“Low health literacy is an emerging public health issue that is
broad in scope and can affect any patient regardless of education
and reading levels,” said Andrew Sussman, M.D., MinuteClinic
president and CVS Caremark senior vice president/associate chief
medical officer. “Research shows that patients who understand
health instructions get well sooner, tend to take their medication
regularly and make fewer mistakes with their care. In particular,
clear communication helps individuals do a better job of managing
chronic health conditions, including those patients we assist with
monitoring at MinuteClinic for high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, diabetes and asthma.”
Ask Me 3 is a patient education program designed to enhance
communication between health care providers and patients in order
to improve health outcomes. The program encourages patients to ask
and understand the answers to three questions: What is my
main problem? What do I need to do? Why is it important for me to
do this?
“Improving health literacy and the dialogue between patient and
provider are essential to safe and appropriate patient care,” said
Diane Pinakiewicz, president of the National Patient Safety
Foundation. “We look forward to working with MinuteClinic to
further our shared goal of providing clear and simple information
that helps patients become active participants in managing their
health and more knowledgeable about the care they need.”
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