Health News Florida

CVS Debuts First Florida HealthHUBS

WUSF | By Daylina Miller

Published January 21, 2020 at 4:20 PM EST

A man in a blue suit stands at a podium in front of a open plan health clinic inside a CVS pharmacy. — CVS Health Senior Vice President Roger Francis explains the HealthHUB cocnept at the Seffner ribbon cutting Tuesday. CREDIT: DAYLINA MILLER/WUSF PUBLIC MEDIA

CVS Health debuted its HealthHUB concept in Florida this week with nine Tampa Bay locations that include the urgent care MinuteClinics.

A wall at the new Seffner CVS HealthHUB clinic shows what services they offer, like chronic care for diabetes and flu testing. — Services offered at HealthHUB locations. CREDIT: DAYLINA MILLER/WUSF PUBLIC MEDIA

The pharmacy giant started piloting HealthHUBS last year in other states to help make health care more accessible between visits to primary care doctors.

“Health happens, right? This is really more of an interplay in terms of between doctor's visits: 'What's going on? What can I do?' and we've all been in that situation,” said Roger Francis, the Senior Vice President of CVS Health.

The HealthHUBS allow for everyday care and chronic conditions, ranging from flu swabs in the traditional clinic setting, to regular check-ups for diabetics.

The aisles have been reimagined to include sections for “anxiety” and “better sleep.” Products include weighted blankets healthier on-the-go snacks, and CPAP machines and replacement parts for those with sleep apnea.

Each HealthHUB also has a wellness room for insurance navigation, wellness classes, meditation, and even senior game events.

CVS Health has 53 HealthHUB locations in five states, including Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas. The company plans to bring this format to 17 states in the first part of 2020.

Francis says 75% of Americans live within five miles of one of their pharmacies.

A group of people cut a CVS ribbon to symbolize the opening of the new clinic. — CVS executives, store employees, and partners performed a ribbon cutting Tuesday at the Seffner HealthHUB. There are nine locations in Florida, all in the Tampa Bay Region. DAYLINA MILLER/WUSF PUBLIC MEDIA

"That's why we are uniquely positioned to be able to do the things that we do,” Francis said. “We really have to solve the health care situation that we're in. Plus, we also have to help people on their path to better health.”

There are now nine HealthHUBS in the Greater Tampa area. CVS is planning for 1,500 more throughout the country by the end of 2021.

The HealthHUB locations in the Tampa Bay region include: