Business & Tech
MinuteClinic Serves Patients
The new MinuteClinic has established a solid patient base. However, its primary goal is to be an adjutant to local doctors, serving patients when their primary doctor is too busy or it is after hours.
The MinuteClinic, which opened at the Marietta-Piedmont CVS on Aug. 31, now averages 45 patients a week. There are 31 MinuteClinics in the Atlanta area, and each averages 10 to 120 patients a week.
"It's growing," MinuteClinic district manager of operations for Atlanta West Brenda Clark said. "We expect it to be at targets soon. It's a great location, nestled between commercial and community areas."
The clinic has three family nurse practitioners. Misty Hinds, a long-time Marietta resident, has been with MinuteClinic since June 30. Julie Powell and Grace Tejada are the two other family nurse practitioners working at the clinic.
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"We already have some regulars," Hinds said. "We have a presence in the community that was almost immediate. I think that a lot of the people who come here have been waiting for this location to open. They've been going to other MinuteClinics in the area."
Clark added, "You can ask the CVS manager here; it's something they've heard. People use to come in and just ask if they had a MinuteClinic. Now they do."
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The MinuteClinic diagnoses common illnesses, treats minor injuries, provides wellness and preventive services, assists in finding a primary care provider and provides visit summaries and access to medical records online.
The average visit to the clinic costs between $79 and $89 and is 20 minutes long. There are two patient rooms at the ; however, only one is regularly open. The second will be used if a high volume of patients comes in.
"This time of year it's mostly coughs, colds, rashes, soar throats, soar throats and soar throats," Clark laughed. "We have a lot of soar throats right now and vaccinations. Seasonal flu shots and most of the school shots needed for the area are available here."
Flu shots are $29.99 at the MinuteClinic.
"It's about being an adjutant to local doctors in the community," Clark said. "We aren't here to be a primary doctor; we're here for after hours or when your doctor is busy or its the weekend."
The MinuteClinic accepts patients 18 months and older. However, practitioners are educated to treat patients from birth to death.
The process for patients is easy: sign in at the kiosk, the nurse practitioner verifies insurance (if the patient has it), a full physical exam is performed and a diagnosis is given.
A nurse practitioner calls every patient who comes through the facility with a followup. The clinic refers its patients back to their primary doctor. If patients don't have one, they provide of list of doctors in the area.
"So far we've see a little bit of everything and everybody," Hinds said. "There are a lot of allergies right now and flu vaccinations."
Location:
Inside CVS at 100 Piedmont Rd. Marietta, 30066
Clinic Hours:
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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