Orlando, Florida (PRWeb) February 5, 2007 -- The healthcare industry's annual conference focused on retail initiatives, Healthcare Retail '07, (www.HealthcareRetail07.com) announced today that Michael C. Howe, CEO of MinuteClinic, will provide the opening keynote address. Healthcare Retail '07 takes place on April 12 & 13, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida.
Howe has served since 2005 as the Chief Executive Officer of Minneapolis-based MinuteClinic, a subsidiary of CVS Corporation (NYSE: CVS). Founded in 2000, MinuteClinic is the pioneer and largest provider of retail-based healthcare in the U.S. , with more than 150 healthcare centers in 19 states. The Company's innovative model for quick, affordable and convenient healthcare has resulted in a history of rapid growth, high customer satisfaction and substantial media coverage.
"MinuteClinic is operating at the intersection of retail and healthcare and as a result, Michael Howe has keen insights into the exploding healthcare retail market," stated Tony Paquin, CEO of The Paquin Group.
The Healthcare Retail '07 Conference is sponsored by The Paquin Group, the leading specialist in healthcare retail initiatives. Healthcare Retail '07 is the premier meeting event for hospitals and healthcare organizations considering or currently implementing a retail strategy. The sale of healthcare related products generates revenues of more than $400 billion annually. The conference covers a complete range of healthcare retail topics and delivers specific information on how to assess and implement healthcare retail systems to capture a portion of this burgeoning market. These include hospital retail locations, e-commerce solutions, branding strategies, loyalty cards, private label brands, in-room education/television technology and medical day spas.
"The retail healthcare industry, spurred by our company's innovation and growth, is creating new avenues to bring simple healthcare solutions to today's consumer marketplace," said Howe. "I look forward to sharing my views on how the model can be expanded to create unique opportunities in retail and workplace settings within healthcare institutions."
Howe's career is distinguished by his ability to build nationally recognized brands that respond to consumers' needs. He is the former CEO of Arby's, a quick service restaurant operating company with 3,400 units nationwide. In addition, he is highly regarded for his work with brands under the Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo and Unilever portfolios.
MinuteClinic locations, which are staffed by certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants, offer treatment for common family illnesses, such as strep throat, ear and sinus infections, and also provide some common vaccinations. Most MinuteClinic healthcare centers are found in CVS/pharmacy stores as well as Cub Foods stores and Quality Food Centers. Additional healthcare centers are located in corporate and government office buildings, college campuses and shopping centers. Since 2000, MinuteClinic has served more than 750,000 patients with 99 percent customer satisfaction.
"Retail in healthcare is now seen as an important strategy for hospitals and healthcare systems to generate new, non-reimbursed sources of revenue," states Paquin.
Registration and other information for the conference can be found at www.HealthcareRetail07.com or by calling 407-566-1333.
About The Paquin Group
The Paquin Group, the nation's leading specialist in healthcare-based retail, is an alliance of industry leading experts and resources created to assist hospitals in the implementation of healthcare retail strategies. The company's core mission is to increase revenue opportunities and minimize risks for healthcare organizations. As Medicare reimbursement rates continue to be pressured downward and expenses rise, new sources for non-reimbursed revenues are becoming essential to the financial viability of hospitals. The Paquin Group helps hospitals identify and implement these new retail revenue strategies. In addition, the firm organizes the healthcare industry's premier annual meeting event for healthcare retail initiatives, The Healthcare Retail '07 Conference. For more information, visit www.ThePaquinGroup.com
About MinuteClinic
MinuteClinic is a subsidiary of CVS Corporation (NYSE: CVS), the leader in America's retail pharmacy industry, with more than 40 years of dynamic growth. MinuteClinic launched the first retail healthcare centers in the U.S. in 2000 and now maintains 154 locations across the country. MinuteClinic consistently brings innovation to the marketplace and sets new standards for clinical quality that exceed the national guidelines established for store-based clinics by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). MinuteClinic is the first and only retail healthcare provider to receive accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 15,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the U.S. For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com
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