UCLA Doctors to Assist CVS Pharmacy Patients

UCLA doctors will serve as medical directors at select CVS pharmacies throughout L.A. County, including Sherman Oaks, the university announced on Wednesday.

Nurse practitioners currently staff CVS medical clinics, called MinuteClinics, and help people with common maladies such as bronchia infections, strep throat and sinus infections. Under the collaboration, UCLA physicians will provide patients with supplemental care that nurses cannot perform, as well as help CVS integrate electronic medical records to streamline and individualize patient care – with a patient’s permission.

"We look forward to having UCLA physicians collaborate with our practitioners to provide quality oversight, teaching and back-up so we can provide the best care at the lowest overall cost," Dr. Andrew Sussman, president of CVS’s MinuteClinic, said in a statement.

The agreement aims to educate patients and improve access to high-quality affordable health care at 11 select CVS pharmacies located in Agoura, Arcadia, Burbank, Wellworth Avenue in Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Montrose, Pomona, Reseda, Sherman Oaks and Torrance.

“By providing access to our physicians’ expertise through MinuteClinic services, we can help members of the community to lead healthier lives,” Dr. David Feinberg, president of UCLA Health System, said in a statement.

No appointments are required at MinuteClinic and most health insurance is accepted. Clinics in Los Angeles County are open Monday toFriday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Burbank clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A start date for the program has yet to be set.