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RediClinic Supports New
Standards for In-Store Health Clinics Set by the American Medical Association Furthering Its Commitment to Quality Health Care, RediClinic Creates National Advisory Board for Clinical Quality HOUSTON (June 20, 2006) – InterFit Health’s RediClinic, provider of high-quality, non-emergency medical services at affordable prices, fully supports the eight principles recently recommended by the American Medical Association (AMA) to ensure that high-quality care is provided at in-store health clinics nationwide. The eight new principles recommend that store-based health clinics: (1) have a well-defined and limited scope of services; (2) have standardized medical protocols derived from evidence-based medicine; (3) are staffed with practitioners who have direct access to physicians; (4) use protocols that ensure continuity of care with physicians in the community; (5) have a local physician referral system; (6) communicate the qualifications of their health care professionals; (7) adhere to appropriate sanitary and hygienic guidelines; and (8) encourage the use of electronic health records. For a complete description of the principles, visit www.ama-assn.org. “RediClinic already complies with the standards set by the AMA, as well as those that have been recommended by the American Academy of Family Practitioners (AAFP), and we applaud both organizations for taking such a constructive approach to store-based clinics,” said Web Golinkin, InterFit Health Chief Executive Officer. “Consumers today want and need the easy access to affordable health care that in-store clinics provide, but the quality of this care must meet the highest professional standards.” To further its commitment to quality healthcare, RediClinic has created a National Advisory Board for Clinical Quality comprised of national leaders in the field of medicine. Founding members of the Advisory Board include representatives from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP). Other members of the Advisory Board include Samuel W. Casscells III, MD and Robert E. Rakel, MD. Dr. Casscells is Chief of Cardiology and Distinguished Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and is a former member of President George W. Bush’s Healthcare Advisory Committee. Dr. Rakel serves as Chairman of Family Medicine and Associate Dean for Academic and Clinical Affairs at Baylor College of Medicine and is one of America’s foremost authorities on family medicine. “We are very pleased to have such a distinguished group of practitioners on our Advisory Board, said Christopher Kersey, MD, RediClinic’s Chief Medical and Business Development Officer. “They will help to ensure that our clinical protocols and systems support the consistent delivery of high-quality health care at every RediClinic nationwide.” InterFit Health currently operates 11 RediClinics with retail partners H-E-B in Texas, Wal-Mart in Arkansas and Oklahoma, and Duane Reade in New York. InterFit recently announced plans to open 75 new RediClinics in the next 12 months and 500 new units by 2009, enabling the company to bring its convenient and affordable non-emergency care to millions of consumers throughout the United States. This expansion will occur partially through its existing retail partnerships, as well as through a new partnership with Walgreens, the nation’s largest drug store chain. RediClinics are staffed by certified nurse practitioners who work with local physicians to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications for common medical conditions, such as strep throat and upper respiratory infections. They also administer a wide range of preventive services, including health screenings, medical tests, vaccinations, and basic physical exams. RediClinics are open seven days a week (including most holidays) and offer extended hours on weekdays. Revolution Health Group, the consumer-driven healthcare company created by AOL Co-founder Steve Case, is InterFit Health’s largest investor and is providing the capital to support the national rollout of RediClinics. InterFit Health Since 1989, InterFit Health has provided people with easy access to convenient, accurate and affordable health screening and other personal health management services. Today the company is the largest provider of retail health screening services in the United States and RediClinic is a leader in convenient care. The Houston-based company also provides health screenings, flu shots and other health-related services to major employers, and directly to consumers through its Internet site at www.interfit.com. |
