MinuteClinic Names New Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer

MinuteClinic announced that it has named Paulette J. Thabault, RNC, MS, JD, as its new Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer. In this role, Thabault will provide professional leadership to clinicians who staff MinuteClinic health centers and will help lead MinuteClinic's clinical and service excellence. MinuteClinic, the retail health care division of CVS Caremark (NYSE:CVS), is the largest provider of retail-based medical clinics in the United States (see also Managed Care).

Thabault has extensive health care and leadership experience and a career spanning more than thirty years. Most recently, she served as the State of Vermont Commissioner of Banking, Insurance Securities and Health Care Administration, where she oversaw financial services including health insurance, and was responsible for state planning for federal health insurance reform implementation, overseeing Vermont's hospitals and establishing requirements for transparency in health care quality and pricing. Previously, she was Vermont Deputy Commissioner of Health Care Administration and served as Vice President of Clinical and Legal Services for The Vermont Health Plan. Thabault also has had an outstanding clinical career as a Nurse Practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she also served as an administrative leader, and Harvard Community Health Plan. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Simmons College and a law degree from New England School of Law.

"We are very excited to have Paulette join the MinuteClinic team as our Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer," said Andrew Sussman, MD, President, MinuteClinic and Senior Vice President/Associate Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark. "She has had an impressive career that includes clinical practice and health care administration. She will be a tremendous leader for us as we continue to evolve the MinuteClinic model of health care."

MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants who specialize in family health care and are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions and joint sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, pneumovax, and Hepatitis A & B are available at all locations. In addition, MinuteClinic administers a series of wellness services designed to help consumers identify lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

MinuteClinic was the first retail clinic to be re-accredited and earn the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™ for consecutive evaluation periods by having demonstrated compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety.