Boone: CVS focused on veteran health, opportunity

We have a  long-standing tradition of hiring qualified veterans.
We have a long-standing tradition of hiring qualified veterans.

Eileen Howard Boone is the senior vice president, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy at CVS Health and president of the CVS Health Foundation. After removing tobacco from nearly 8,000 CVS locations nationwide and implementing more health and wellness programs, the company was given the Workplace Hero award by the American Red Cross Rhode Island chapter. Under Boone’s leadership, CVS Health donated more than $6.5 million to Rhode Island nonprofit organizations last year. Other praised initiatives included the Totes of Hope Program, the CVS Charity Classic golf tournament and the CVS Health Emergency Response Team. Boone has held this role for a little over a year and she most recently served as CVS Health’s senior vice president of corporate communications and community relations.

PBN: How many Rhode Island employees are involved in the CVS Health Emergency Response Team and what types of services/resources do they offer to the community?
BOONE: We have an Emergency Response Team comprised of 200 colleagues in Rhode Island, who volunteer their time to serve as first responders in the event of a disaster, evacuation or medical emergency at their workplace. All Emergency Response Team members are trained in CPR, First Aid and Life Safety, and meet regularly to address areas of concern and perform simulated evacuation drills. The Emergency Response Team was developed as a pilot program in our Rhode Island offices in 2014, but it is being recognized as a model for corporate volunteer response programs across the region.

PBN: Could you tell me more about CVS Health’s programs and offerings for veterans, both internally as well as to the public?
BOONE: Earlier this month, we announced a $20,000 grant to support Westbay Community Action Inc.’s Rhode Island Vet Corps program, which connects veterans to vital services in our state, such as mental and physical health, employment and education services. In addition, we have a long-standing tradition of hiring qualified veterans, Guard and Reserve members and military spouses across all parts of the business.

PBN: How do removing tobacco and offering smoking cessation programs fit with the company’s recent change of name and direction?
BOONE: This decision aligns with our company’s purpose of helping people on their path to better health, and demonstrates our commitment to the health of our customers, our clients and our colleagues. When we made the decision to stop selling tobacco products in all of our CVS/pharmacy locations, we also launched a comprehensive smoking-cessation campaign to help millions of Americans quit smoking and live tobacco-free lives. In light of this decision and to further illustrate our role as a pharmacy-innovation company that is changing the way health care is delivered, we changed our company name from CVS Caremark to CVS Health. •

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