CVS Caremark Extends Google Health Partnership Enabling CVS/pharmacy Customers To Add Prescription Information To Personal Health Records

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 07 Apr 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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CVS Caremark announced the expansion of its partnership with Google Health by providing CVS/pharmacy customers the ability to securely download their prescription and medication histories to their Google Health Account. Consumers filling prescriptions at CVS/pharmacy stores can now add their medication history to their online medical record directly from CVS.com.

CVS Caremark has been a Google Health partner since it was launched in May 2008. Consumers using CVS Caremark for pharmacy benefit management services can already store, organize, and manage their prescription history information online using Google Health. In addition, patients who receive treatment at MinuteClinic, the retail-based health clinic subsidiary of CVS Caremark, can also securely import their visit summaries into their Google Health Accounts.

"We now offer all of our consumers the ability to download their prescription and medication history into their Google Health Personal Health Record, whether they are CVS/pharmacy customers, CVS Caremark plan participants or visitors to our MinuteClinic locations," said Helena Foulkes, Executive Vice President at CVS Caremark. "By enabling patients to download their prescription information directly into their personal health record, we are helping to close the gap in today's fragmented health care system and provide a full view of a patient's health."

"With CVS/pharmacy now integrated on Google Health in addition to our other pharmacy and PBM partners, we estimate there are over 100 million Americans that can get access to their prescription history online and securely download it to Google Health," said Sameer Samat, Director of Product Management, Google Health. "This is good news, because having a current list of all your medications in one place helps your doctor, pharmacist, hospital and other care providers do a better job of taking care of you."

To use the tool, customers of CVS/pharmacy must first be signed up for the Prescription Management feature on CVS.com. This feature also allows registered customers to manage their prescriptions online including ordering refills, choosing pickup locations, requesting prescription renewals and receiving alerts on generic alternatives. In order to maintain patient privacy, the consumer making the request for information will need to be authenticated on the cvs.com Web site before any data is shared with Google Health.

"Our online tools, including Google Health, allow our customers to better manage their health information," continued Foulkes. "By keeping their health records up to date, consumers and their health care providers can coordinate care to optimize outcomes."

About CVS Caremark

CVS Caremark is the largest provider of prescriptions in the nation. The Company fills or manages more than 1 billion prescriptions annually. Through its unmatched breadth of service offerings, CVS Caremark is transforming the delivery of healthcare services in the U.S. The Company is uniquely positioned to effectively manage costs and improve healthcare outcomes through its more than 6,900 CVS/pharmacy stores; its Caremark Pharmacy Services division (pharmacy benefit management, mail order and specialty pharmacy); its retail-based health clinic subsidiary, MinuteClinic; and its online pharmacy, CVS.com.

Source: CVS Caremark

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