WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health has entered into clinical affiliations with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Tucson Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz., and its Arizona Connected Care accountable care organization.

CVS said Tuesday that through the clinical collaborations it will provide prescription and visit information to the health providers via the integration of electronic health record (EHR) systems, which will enhance care for patients served by these affiliates. Patients also will have access to clinical support, medication counseling, chronic disease monitoring and wellness programs at CVS/pharmacy drug stores and CVS Health’s MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics.

The medical centers’ health providers, too, will receive data on interventions conducted by CVS pharmacists to improve patients’ medication adherence. The affiliation also will promote collaboration between the medical center providers and MinuteClinic providers to improve coordination of care for patients seen at MinuteClinics.

Physicians affiliated with the medical centers will collaborate with MinuteClinic nurse practitioners to work closely on joint clinical programs and care coordination activities, CVS added. If more comprehensive care is needed, patients can follow up with their primary care doctor and have access to the services at the medical center. For those patients without regular access to health care, MinuteClinic provides information to help patients in finding a primary care physician.

“In this era of health care reform, we are pleased to work with these health care providers to develop collaborative programs that enhance access to patient care, improve health outcomes and lower health care costs in the communities they serve,” CVS Health chief medical officer Troy Brennan said in a statement. “By integrating our electronic health records and information systems, we will collectively have a more comprehensive view of our patients, which can aid in health care decision making and help ensure patients adhere to important medications for chronic diseases.” Center

CVS/pharmacy has more than 7,800 locations nationwide, including over 900 in-store MinuteClinics. CVS said the new clinical affiliations bring the total number of health system and health provider affiliations for CVS Health and MinuteClinic to more than 50 major health systems and networks across the country.