CVS debuts HealthHUBs at 3 Oahu Longs

The HealthHUB at Longs Drugs is now open and is offering an array of health care services on Oahu in the well-known chain, which has had a presence in Hawaii since 1954.

CVS Health, parent company of Longs Drugs in Hawaii, officially unveiled the new HealthHUB concept at three of its Oahu stores — in Kaneohe, Aiea and Wahiawa. A grand-opening ceremony and blessing was scheduled for the Kaneohe store this morning.

Located at the back of Longs stores, the HealthHUB offers a range of health care services including the Minute Clinic, which will offer more, including treatment for common illnesses, immunizations and the screening and care of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and sleep apnea, along with more personalized support at the pharmacy, and more products focused on overall health and wellness.

>> PHOTOS: CVS debuts HealthHUBs at 3 Oahu Longs

Services are available in person as well as virtually, and concierges within the HealthHUB are available to help customers navigate them.

“We’re delivering real change to the health care system, and that is the focus of our new HealthHUB locations across the state,” said Scott Sutton, region director for Longs Drugs in Hawaii, in a news release. “Customers tell us they want local access to convenient, personalized and integrated health care. Our HealthHUBs do just that — elevating the store and our digital touchpoints into a seamless, community-based health care offering that complements the patient-doctor relationship and provides consumers with accessible and knowledgeable experts they trust, in order to coordinate a better health care experience at a lower cost.”

The services at the HealthHUB are intended to complement, not replace, those of the patients’ physicians, and to provide health care that is convenient and more affordable, according to Sutton.

CVS Health first launched HealthHUB in 2018 in the Houston area, and now operates 500 locations in 29 states, with plans to have 600 operational by the end of the year. The company says it is on track to offer HealthHUBs at 1,500 stores by the end of 2021.

CVS hired many new employees from the Hawaii market over the past few months, said Sutton, including those looking to return to work, and those from other sectors, including restaurants and tourism. Many of the HealthHUB concierges are also residents who grew up in the communities they serve.

Although the HealthHUB was launched before the COVID-19 pandemic, CVS Health officials said it can fill in gaps between doctors’ appointments and encourage customers to be more proactive with their health when it is more critical than ever.

“As COVID-19 continues to impact Hawaii and communities across the country, many Americans have delayed visiting a doctor for routine care, a decision that can have serious, long-term consequences,” said Sutton. “The addition of HealthHUBs across the state means the community now has convenient locations for health and wellness checks, immunizations, treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, screening for chronic conditions, and much more.”

The new HealthHUBs will offer products specific to the needs of Hawaii residents, he said, including those needed by kupuna and their caregivers. There will be more health and wellness products, including devices that sync to mobile phones.

Among other expanded services at the HealthHUBs are pharmacist-led diabetes counseling services, smart- device coaching and smoking cessation plans. The MinuteClinics at the HealthHUBs will offer screening for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, as well as a suite of solutions for sleep apnea.

Following the ceremony this morning, CVS Health planned to commit to a second year of funding for Aloha United Way, with a $25,000 grant that will support the Hawaii Homeless Healthcare Hui’s plans to build a permanent, comprehensive service facility in Iwilei.

Oahu HealthHUBs

Find CVS HealthHUBs at the following locations:

>> Longs Drugs, Windward City Shopping Center, 45-480 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Kaneohe

>> Longs Drugs, 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Aiea

>> Longs Drugs, 925 California Ave., Wahiawa