Launching its first retail medical clinics in 2000, MinuteClinic, a division of CVS Caremark Corporation, has about 600 locations across 25 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Its health care model responds to consumer demand, making access to quality medical treatment simpler and more affordable for many. With a 95 percent customer satisfaction rating, the retail health care provider could further benefit its patients by utilizing the asthma disease management resources and tools from Lungtropolis.com.
Asthma in the U.S.
Asthma disease management costs Americans about $56 billion per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Between the years 2002 and 2007, the medical expenses associated with treatment of the disease grew by $1.5 billion. Consequently, the growing cost of asthma means there are numerous opportunities for financial incentives for Employee Assistance Programs, Healthcare Insurers and Health Systems to offer a wellness program that can help improve the outcome of asthma patients, minimize health-related issues and save time.
Asthma is a growing health epidemic and the leading cause of hospitalizations in children under the age of 15. With this condition, patients must play an intensive and critical role in their own disease management. Thus, education and support from health care providers are vitally important to improving the health outcome of asthma patients. Asthma patients and those with other chronic illnesses are attractive customers to retail pharmacies looking to attract new, loyal customers. By offering in-store health services, CVS was able to target this market.
The Benefit of ORCAS
MinuteClinics have served as a vital resource for those who dont have health insurance, and several employers now offer MinuteClinic access in their health plans. Consequently, there is significant opportunity to improve the outcomes of patients with asthma and reduce its related costs by offering asthma disease management services, knowledge, tools and skills. By explaining asthma to children and their parents with the use of the asthma games developed by Lungtropolis (an ORCAS program), MinuteClinic can stand out from its competitors in a way thats attractive, lucrative and low cost.
Lungtropolis.com offers a variety of free online resources to patients particularly children and their parents. With the variety of online asthma disease management resources available, there is still significant room to improve upon the innovation, quality, reach and efficacy of such programs. A partnership between ORCAS and MinuteClinic could help get the ball rolling.
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