Five years ago I made one of the most important and beneficial New Years resolutions I have ever made. After 37 years I decided to commit myself to stop smoking. Well, it took me 4 days into the New Year to actually stop but it is nice every year on January 4th to add another year to my accomplishment. At the time I didn’t understand why I smoked or ways to help myself when I was feeling weak. Some how I made it through it but it wasn’t easy and along the way I have learned other ways to handle my stress. I really didn’t investigate how to quit or if there was a program to help. I know now that there is a program and I want to share it with you so you don’t have to do this alone like I did.
CVS /Pharmacy has a MinuteClinic and one of the many services they offer is a program called Start to Stop®, a Smoking Cessation Program.
This program provides personal counseling with a nurse practitioner to help you quit smoking. it also includes:
- One-on-one consultation with a practitioner, including a nicotine-dependence assessment.
- Individualized smoking cessation plan and education based on your needs and goals.
- Ongoing coaching and support in your efforts to quit smoking.
- Nicotine-replacement recommendations or prescriptions written when clinically appropriate.
- A visit summary sent to your primary care provider, with your permission.
Not only do they offer a Smoking Cessation Program, they also offer a Weight Loss program, another New Years resolutions made by many including yours truly.
The MinuteClinic has partnered with DASH for Health™ to create a Weight Loss Program. All nutritional advice is based on the popular DASH diet, ranked the #1 Overall Diet by US News & World Report 3 years in a row. The program is easy to follow, focusing on healthy eating and is clinically proven to promote weight loss. It also has the added benefit of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
First you go in for an Initial Weight Assessment Visit where you will receive membership to DASH for Health™, a great online resource to help you stay on course in-between visits to the MinuteClinic. Then A nurse practitioner will perform a thorough assessment and evaluation and create a personalized weight loss plan created just for you, your lifestyle and goals.You will get ongoing Weight Loss Coaching were they will monitor your progress and provide the ongoing support you need to stay on track and achieve your goals. And coaching continues as long as you need it.
Along with these special programs, the MinuteClinic at CVS/pharmacy also is a health clinic that makes health care easier for people with a lot going on. The family nurse practitioners and physician assistants provide quality care every day. They have convenient evening and weekend hours and are open 7 days a week, you don’t need an appointment and they accept insurance.
I was thrilled to find out about the MinuteClinic at CVS/pharmacy, no more taking time off work to go to the doctor. All our health needs are convenient at the MinuteClinic at CVS/pharmacy. #MC
