Retail health clinics: The pros and cons

Retail health clinics: The pros and cons - We moms tend to worry about our children a lot, and think of ways to help them, even when they are older. Case in point: I can not wait to tell my college-age son Chris about my last useful idea because-I-Care. 

It stems from an incident last year when Chris had the flu and ended up going to the emergency room and local university clinic had a wait of two days. This year, I'm Chris arm with a backup: retail clinics.

Retail clinics are part of the great trend for health care is the most convenient. "Twenty years I had to go to an emergency room if he became ill and needed immediate attention there. 

Now we have an explosion of options, such as retail health clinics, "says Dr. Ateev Mehrotra, a researcher on the topic and associate professor of health policy at Harvard Medical School.

Clinical

Health clinics began to appear in retail 15 years. Today there are about 2,000 clinics in the United States, located mainly in pharmacies, grocery stores, settings "big box" and other large distribution chain. 

The clinics are usually open 7:00 to 7:00 p.m., seven days a week and are attended by a nurse or physician assistant. They offer all kinds of health services: everything from the treatment of minor illnesses such as colds, conjunctivitis and urinary tract infections, complete physical examinations (including laboratory work and exams), vaccines and even help you quit smoking.

Pros

Retail health clinics have many advantages. They are easy to enter, with extended and no appointment necessary hours.

Prices have been set for each service, which can be previewed on its website. For example, a tour of wellness is $ 59 at Walmart. CVS cholesterol test is $ 59 to $ 69 "We found in our clinical data that are 30% to 40% cheaper than visiting a doctor, and 80% cheaper than a visit to the OR emergency, "says Dr. Mehrotra. the clinics also have private insurance and Medicare.

But the weaker results of the price of the lower quality of care? "We found that the quality of care in retail clinics is equal or superior to the offices of some doctors, because the clinics are more likely to follow national guidelines for care," says Dr. Mehrotra.

Less

Despite all the advantages, retail health clinics may not be suitable for everyone. "Health care is different for older people. The care that you need, even for a simple problem may be more complicated.

For example, a urinary tract infection affects a very different older woman a younger woman, with wife Elderly at risk of dehydration, confusion, falls, and even sepsis, "says Dr. Mehrotra. And if you have a chronic health problem, a simple illness could indicate something big that could only be made by a doctor who sees you regularly, such as your primary care physician. 

Geriatrician Dr. Suzanne Salamon, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, is concerned that the details of a patient visit to a retail health clinic are sent.

Although the clinics offer this service, everyone takes them on it. "The risk that scattered attention of several locations can be misleading," says Dr. Salamon. "And if people do not take their full lists of drugs at a clinic, the clinic may prescribe something that will interact with medications they are taking."

What to do

A report of the American College of Physicians recently published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine said that retail clinics are fine for a short-term illness or a backup when you can not see your doctor. 

But they should not replace a long-term relationship with a primary care. "Going to a clinic in the minute is fine for minor problems, such as a vaccine against the flu or a sore throat, especially if you are generally healthy," says Dr. Mehrotra.

This means lower health clinic would be an excellent choice for my son Chris, or for anyone who is generally healthy and need to consult a healthcare professional immediately. However, there are still some things to keep in mind if you visit a retail clinic, even for a vaccine against the flu:

      * Bring a list of your medications with you.
      * Until your doctor your medical history and any health condition you have.
      * Ask the clinic to send details of the visit to your doctor.
      * Consider a follow-up appointment with your doctor if you have time, so that everyone is on the same page with regard to maintaining your health.

Follow these tips, and is likely to yourself, give your doctor and mother "even good ol some peace. Right, Chris?  
By: Heidi Godman