Let’s start with some of the arguments these
groups put forward as reasons for concern in using a Retail Clinic!
Ø Do not have access to
all chart records.
Ø Causes Fragmentation of
care by adding another provider.
Ø Staffed often by
Physician Assistances or Nurse Practitioner
Ø No patient follow up
care.
Ø Chronically ill are
more complicated than clinics usually see.
(Note it doesn’t say can’t handle)
Ø Question if have
patient’s best interests at heart!
I looked in detail at five articles about these warnings. The first covers the period around 2007. Titled
AMA Goes After Walmart Style Retail Clinics, it warns of the same concerns. “Our primary focus is
patient safety and patient care, and the retail clinics have a different
mission of selling products and prescriptions,” said Dr. Rodney Osborn.
The AMA stance at that time was to lobby for increases regulations of these
Retail Clinics. Typically doctors often
site regulations and dealing with insurance as an over regulated problem.
The other articles cover and aim at those
clinics owned by CVS, Walgreen’s, Target and other groups. On Feb. 23, 2014 (my
52 birthday updated a statement disapproving of the Retail Clinics. Again the list above covers their reasons for
concern.
An article written in Aug. of 2012 shows
these statistics.
Ø Total visits go from 1.5
million (2007) to 6 million (2009)
Ø The same study notes that
there are 557 million visits to Doctors and 177 to ER’s
Ø One significant change in
demographics was that those over 65 were at 7.5% (2000 to 2006) and at 14.7
(2007 to 2009).
Ø About 40% of the visits from
2007 to 2009 were for immunizations.
I now have a few questions
and statements I think need to be considered.
Ø How often can the people that
visited a Retail Clinic did so because of lack of access to an appointment
needed now?
Ø How many ER’s have access to
a patient’s health record or chart?
Ø How many Pediatricians really
know a patient and remember that child’s chart when called after hours?
Ø How many Nurse Practitioners
or PA’s are employed by Pediatricians or Doctors?
Ø Is it really fair to say no
access to follow up care? I say this
because many say to follow up with your family practitioner or come back to
them if they do not have one!
Ø If it is still true that
most(almost half, 40%) go for immunizations, is this really a big issue?
Ø What study said this are
that? Compare it to what is actually
going on.
Ø Should Pharmacists really be
giving vaccinations when they are bogged down just filling prescriptions?
Ø How many groups are going to
have a formal relationship with your Pediatrician?
Ø Is some of the disjoint and
lack of communication the fault of the AMA for going after the Retail Clinics
instead of really working with these groups to shore up the holes? Or, is this
just about the bottom line?
Ø How many people complain
about not enough time with their doctor?
Ø
I would think again about what the AMA and AAP
says about these clinics. I would think
also about getting prescriptions where pharmacists are doing a lot of
vaccinations. I am a pharmacist and will
get plenty of feedback for this I am sure.
The bottom line is go to places that you feel
comfortable. I can personally vouch for
a Nurse Practitioner owned clinic.
Excellent care is what my husband (also a pharmacist), my son and I get
when we go there. This does not stop me
from having a family practice physician.
I have gone to this man since 1987 and will not go elsewhere besides that NP owned clinic in Yukon,
OK. They do not compete but compliment
each other.
Below are the 5 articles used to write this
essay; along with my personal knowledge and opinion. 
Ollamok AKA Sandra
http://www.amednews.com/article/20120827/business/308279963/7/ http://healthland.time.com/2014/02/23/pediatrics-group-advises-against-retail-based-clinics/ http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/08/drug-store-retail-clinics-primary-care-fast.html
http://consumerist.com/2007/06/27/american-medical-association-goes-after-walmart-style-retail-clinic
/http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/2013/11/pdf/vm-1311.pdf
