New health care offerings to launch at select stores in several markets

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy plans to add hearing centers in seven stores and provide optical services in another five stores.

CVS said Monday that the hearing centers are launching this month at stores in the greater Dallas and Cleveland areas, while the vision services will be offered later this fall inside stores within the Washington, D.C./Baltimore market.

“Hearing and optical services are a great fit with the existing health offerings in our stores, including industry-leading pharmacy products and services, our MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics, and a comprehensive smoking cessation program,” Andrew Sussman, president of CVS/minuteclinic and executive vice president and associate chief medical officer of CVS Health, said in a staement. “By expanding our retail health offerings into vision and ­hearing services, we are providing customers a convenient, single destination on their path to better health.”

The Hearing Centers at CVS/pharmacy will be open Tuesday to Saturday. The centers are staffed by licensed audiologists and hearing instrument specialists, who will be able assess hearing needs using computerized equipment in soundproof booths.

Plans call for the optical services to be available seven days a week. Services will include comprehensive eye exams by an optometrist three days a week for walk-ins and appointments; prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses; access to more than 600 styles of frames and sunglasses from fashionable, popular brands for women, men and children; and free cleanings and adjustments. All glasses will have a 90-day total satisfaction guarantee.

“Over the past year, we have eliminated tobacco products from all of our stores, added healthy food options, and created a stronger connection between health and beauty,” stated Judy Sansone, senior vice president of front-store business and chief merchant of CVS Health. “Now, by taking these first steps into providing hearing and optical services, we continue to evolve our retail locations into a leading destination for convenient and accessible health services.”