Store-Based Health Care Is Booming

Retail Health Clinics Expand, But Concerns Rise Over Quality, Conflicts

(AP)  Increasingly, American consumers are shopping for health care the way they buy a hamburger or milk shake at a fast-food chain: By standing in line at a local store under a menu.

Store-based health clinics — which are staffed mostly by nurse practitioners and offer quick services for routine conditions from colds and bladder infections to sunburn — aren't just a health care fad anymore, but fast becoming a serious industry.

About 7 percent of Americans have tried a clinic at least once, according to an estimate by the Convenient Care Association, an industry trade group formed last year. That number is expected to increase dramatically, as major pharmacy operators like Wal-Mart Stores Inc., CVS Corp., Target Corp. and Walgreen Co., partner with miniclinic providers like RediClinic and MinuteClinic to expand operations. The trade group estimated there will be more than 700 by year-end, up from the more than 400 now, and 2,000 by the end of 2008.

With the nation's $2 trillion health care system in need of repair, such an express approach to health care — which offers a wait time averaging about 15 minutes and evening and weekend hours — is being heralded as serving up a cheaper and quicker alternative than a doctor's office or an emergency room. A physical exam costs on average $60, while a flu shot typically costs about $20. A strep throat test has a price tag of about $15.

"I was frankly very impressed with how thorough (the examination) was," said Susan Anthony, who visited a clinic at a Phoenix, Md., Target for a dry cough. "And it was fast. I walked in at 10:30 a.m. and was in my car a little after 11:00 a.m."

The American Medical Association said a growing number of medical practices are extending their office hours or forming their own clinics to compete. But concerns about quality of care are rising among physicians and some industry experts say the clinics' services need to be more comprehensive if they are going to have a big impact on reducing overall health care costs.

The competition is already spawning expanded services as well as new spinoffs. Consumer Health Services Inc. — founded by a former investor of MinuteClinic, considered the pioneer in the industry — just started rolling out walk-in doctor's offices at Duane Reade Inc. drugstores in the New York City area. The clinics offer broader services that include wart removal and treatment for sprained ankles.

The ventures are promising enough that big-shot investors are jumping into the game. RediClinic got an undisclosed cash infusion from Revolution LLC, the investment house launched by AOL founder Steve Case.

Support among health insurance companies is also growing; about 40 percent to 50 percent of clinics accept insurance from providers like Humana Inc., UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Aetna Inc., according to CCA.

"(Store-based clinics) provide another access point for our members," said Allen Karp, vice president of health care delivery for Aetna.

But concerns are rising in the medical industry that these operations remain largely unregulated and are prone to conflicts of interest. Some physicians are also concerned that the clinics could disrupt the continuity of care and result in serious underlying health conditions going undetected.

[puzzler125]

I was seen by a Nurse Practitioner and she was more thorough than any doctor I've been to in the last years since HMOs started! Inspections must be on the same level as other healthcare facilities but did you know Dr's offices can be shamefully underinvestigated? My surgeon (post-gallbladder surgery) had a solution in his office that was not changed for five weeks as indicated on a wall check sheet (labelled "weekly"). When I pointed it out at my first visit I made a mental note to check it at my next visit. The previous six weeks were now all falsely signed and dated!

[tmkgls]

Part 2:

My opinion is that the regular clinics, which are extensions of hospitals, are in an uproar because they will lose money since these store clinics are not associated with them. (I hope it stays that way - hospitals/clinics appear to have mini-monopolies as it is.)

The regulation by the government should be as strict as any clinic/hospital. They should be investigated as thoroughly as any clinic/hospital to check that doctors, nurses, and practitioners, etc. have legal credentials and clean work histories. Their premises should also be inspected for cleanliness. In addition, these clinics should be watched so they do not pressure the patients to purchase any prescription or non-prescription items they are prescribed at the store their clinic is in. If all this is done correctly then these clinics may help us in many ways.

[tmkgls]

Part 1:

If a healthy person wants to pay - let them. If they didn't have these clinics they would be going to a regular clinic anyway and taking up precious time for the seriously ill. It's their money - let them spend it where they want.

If illegals - not all but just the ones who expect a free ride - go to one of these they have to pay right away. They'll stick with an emergency room where they're only billed - that way they don't have to pay. The same goes for many people besides illegals - let's please not stereotype.

A way to help eliminate any contagions is by having a separate outside entrance. The level of contagion is most likely just as high in regular clinics as these store clinics. Many regular clinics house various areas of medicine from broken bones to dermatology problems to strep infections, etc. - even TB before they are diagnosed. Many ill people go to regular clinics all the time thereby many different infectious illnesses are in the air and germs are on furniture, doorknobs, etc.

[sjc_1]

If it is anything like the fee clinics that we have in strip malls, they will charge you $100 and tell you to go see a doctor. It is not a doctor that sees you but a doctor's assistant, usually a nurse or a doctor from a foreign country that is mot licensed to practice medicine here. If they can put a bandaid on it and give you an asprin then that is about it. More like an overprice first aid station.

[my2centss]

The illegals normally go to the emergency rooms, and do not pay. That is why so many emergency rooms are closing, or facing finacial trouble.

[sparks224]

Oh great, another disgusting scam.

[drivelphobe]

This clinic approach sounds interesting, but the chance of exposure to something dangerous and contagious is high. I agree with another poster that illegals will be the main customer base.

Healthcare costs could be substantially reduced if physicians would treat the sick and get out of the business of misleading healthy individuals to come in for preventative care. Health insurers should not pay anything for treatment of healthy individuals. When you're sick or injured, go to the doctor or hospital. If not, stay away. The greedy medical community wants more income so they have dreamed up the scam of all scams, to treat healthy people and get paid for it. This has got to stop. How many times have you known someone who goes in for a scan, gets great results, and dies within a year from cancer. The tests are no more than a revenue drivers for these greedy medical practitioners and hospital administrators.

[olebd]

I'd worry about catching something from somebody who is seeing a medical professional in a place where I go shopping for basic needs. What if the person who comes in thinking they have a common cold has something more serious like TB? The chance of spreading it to others seems greater.

Seems a bit unfair to those of us who would rather see our family doctor in a normal medical setting.

In my opinion, these places are probably intentionally set up for illegals. If not, they will more than likely be used by them more than anyone else.

[ramos937]

This is a business long overdue. My son and I can go to our local HEB store that has a medical clinic inside as an independent business. While my son does the grocery shopping, I can be seen by a registered nurse. She listens to me, makes sure I tell her of medicinces(?) I am currently taken, makes an evaluation of my condition. If I just something like a cold, she gives me a shot of pennicillen(?), I pay the bill and am out the door. They even take health insurance.

If see suspects that I am suffering from something serious, she checks with my doctor and follows his advice.

If there is a long line, I take a number and join my son, when the clinic is ready for me, I am paged over the store system.

My major savings is time. Last time I went to the doctor, I had an appt for 9 AM. He did not get to the office until 10 AM and saw me around 11 AM.
All I had was the flu. This was before I started going to the store clinic. Another savings is cost, the flu shot cost $60 (paid by insurance), the doctor's visit cost somewhere around $100 (paid by insurance).

Let's keep and improve the store clinic program. It saves time and money yet delivers great medical care.

[nskduke]

Clinics at Wal-Mart. Lets think about this for a second. Bad idea! Hell knows where the medication comes from. Its bad enough that Wal-Mart is know China made, but to have clinics.

Wal-Mart=China, get the picture!! Sure their medication maybe cheap, but is it safe and effective. And what about the so called doctors they hire, will they be highly educated enough to tell you what the hell is really wrong with you when you go for a check up.

Be smart, lrts think before we act. What you are seeing maybe too good to be true.

[my2centss]

Why not go shopping while your family is seeing the Dr? You are going to be there all day anyway. As to the AMA saying medical care needs to be more comprehensive, sitting at the doctor's office 3 hours to be seen for 2 minutes, and told to try this presciption, is not comprehensive.

[itgranny]

I just read an article from another site stating the US now ranks 43 in longevity while remaining 1st in cost. Most of these other countries have got universal health care but the US doesn't seem to get it (in other words, corporate america/politians won't let go of their cash cow).

I don't have a problem with this sort of care. For some, it is the difference between an affordable office visit and an emergency room visit. For others it will mean the difference between being seen when problems are small or when the problem gets so big it requires hospitalization.