Treat a rash in a flash
Quick care available for common ailments at CVS MinuteClinic
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

The CVS on Route 1 in North Brunswick is now home to MinuteClinic, a healthcare center that provides diagnosis and treatment of common family illnesses when physicians are not available or when the emergency room is not a viable option.

NORTH BRUNSWICK - You can get an oil change, boil eggs, walk a mile or watch movie trailers in about 15 minutes.

Now you can be treated for a minor common illness in about 15 minutes as well, with no appointment necessary.

With the opening of the MinuteClinic in the CVS on Route 1 in October, residents now have access to quick, affordable, reliable health care when their own physicians are not available or when the emergency room is not a suitable option.

"I think the uniqueness is the convenience it offers as a relief to patients who have other everyday stresses they have no relief from," said Kathleen Caridi, a nurse practitioner and regional manager for the central New Jersey territory. "If they're taking their son to soccer or their daughter to dance and they're hacking up a lung, it can really impact the rest of their week if they're dealing with sick children."

The ailments that can be evaluated and treated for patients over 18 months of age include: allergies, bladder infections, bronchitis, ear infections, pink eye, sties, sinus infections, strap throat, athlete's foot, cold sores, tick bites, impetigo, minor burns and rashes, minor skin infections, minor sunburn, poison ivy, ringworm, swimmer's itch, warts, chlamydia, flu, laryngitis, mono, pregnancy testing and swimmer's ear.

Chronic diseases such as blood pressure problems or diabetes cannot be treated.

Vaccines for DTaP, the flu, hepatitis A and B, polio, meningitis, MMR, pneumonia and Td are also available.

The facility is staffed with nurse practitioners who are master's-prepared with family certification; there are 21 practitioners who alternate between the 10 New Jersey clinics. They are able to diagnose, treat and prescribe medication, which can be filled at CVS or at another pharmacy of the patient's choice. The treatment center follows nationally established clinical practice guidelines from the

American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics to ensure the highest quality of health care.

However, the clinic is not a replacement for physician care but is instead an adjunct to professional services when those doctors may not be available.

"We are not a physician substitute; we work alongside them. We have a specialized, finite plan of common family illnesses so we are an alternate access to health care," Caridi said.

A physician is always on call if needed, but any ailments that cannot be treated are referred out to the patient's own doctor or a hospital. In such an instance, a full medical assessment would be provided for the subsequent health-care provider and the patient would not be charged for their visit to the MinuteClinic.

Most services cost $59, but insurance co-payments are accepted when applicable. MinuteClinic accepts plans including Aetna, AmeriGroup, Beech Street, ChoiceCare Network, Cigna, Great-West Healthcare, HealthNet, Horizon BCBS, Medicare, MetLife and TRICARE NJ. There is a co-payment program where the patient can pay their listed co-pay, and then if they are out of network, the corporate office will handle the billing process.

"So far the community has been very receptive to having an available clinic for common family visits," Caridi said.

MinuteClinic is a Minneapolis-based subsidiary of the CVS Corp. The first health-care centers were launched in 2000 with more than 100 locations currently established throughout 17 states. For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com.

For North Brunswick, the hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Although walk-ins are welcomed and expected, appointments can be made by calling CVS at (732) 297-9001.