Comments on: 20 Surprising Ways Wal-Mart Clinics Will Affect US Healthcare

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:26:28 +0000

Real Alternative Medicine
One possible solution to the primary care doctor is what is known as retail care clinics, or convenience care clinics, and their popularity continues to increase somewhat for a variety of reasons. And their eventual need by others has yet to be determined and is only speculated by others at this time.
Of particular note is that most of these types of clinics is that are normally staffed with nurse practitioners or physician assistants, who are, like doctors, more thorough than others, but are favored by many as a vocation and sought as treatment providers progressively. The growth of such clinics may slow at times, but the benefits of such urgent care light clinics do in fact exist and are desirable for many.
First, I’ll offer a definition of a retail clinic: A retail clinic is a medical treatment facility that is usually located in a convenient location, such as a shopping area, and are smaller than most doctors’ offices in regards to geographical space. Usually, these clinics are staffed with a nurse practitioner that often have the ability and authority to provide the same quality care as a primary care physician, and do so with the same standards regarding accountability and autonomy.
If you happen to go to one for what may be considered a mild ailment, for example, for such conditions as allergies or the flu, you will notice a unique and pleasant paradigm towards your care at such a clinic in comparison with present medical doctor offices that are possibly demoralized if not largely apathetic, others have said
These urgent care light clinics are normally and amazingly quick for a patient treated at such a location. You are normally in and out of there within a half hour or so. This includes a thorough assessment and treatment regimen offered by the health care providers at such clinics.
Unlike typical doctor offices, these clinics are walk-in clinics, so there is no over-booking of patients, which is what typically occurs at current offices of doctors, as many are focused on daily volume of patients, as they are usually a member of a large health care system that instructs these offices in such a way.
With these convenience care clinics, you actually dialogue with your health care provider more so than you have experienced in a traditional doctor’s office due to other doctor offices often being incredibly busy from seeing too many patients during a typical day for reasons described above.
And this is not to imply that the health care providers at typical doctor offices do not care about you and one’s particular health issues, yet possibly is due to limited resources related to patient care, they may be unable to do so.
The cost of going to such a retail clinic typically is about 25 percent less expensive than a normal doctor visit, others have said. Yet you will likely notice no decline in the quality of care that you receive. In fact, likely you will experience greater quality on many different levels, both from a personal level and treatment level if a patient at such a clinic as a retail clinic, others have said..
Critics of such clinics include the American Medical Association and various medical societies, yet in my opinion, they are simply vexed because of the invasion of these clinics on their turf and their infiltration into their group without being invited, perhaps. Or perhaps such groups and associations do not see NPs and Pas as having the ability to provide quality medical care as they do as medical doctors. Regardless, most seem pleased with the retail clinics and the treatment provider others experience at these locations.
If it is discovered that you need greater medical care or attention than the retail clinic can provide for you during your visit at their urgent care light clinic, you will most likely be referred to a nearby location that can provide the care you are determined to need by the clinic’s heath care provider, who has likely has some familiarity and possibly some relationships with the hospitals and others in the medical community for which they serve. It should be noted that both NPs and PAs are quite capable of determining the severity of your illness, and will act accordingly.
So most patients of these retail clinics are pleased with the care they receive from them, which is why they continue to grow in number under different names, as they have become franchises, yet the concept of this ‘pay as you go’ health care is fairly new, only the future will tell if this method is preferred by those seeking minor restoration of their health. It seems to be preferred by many presently. And presently, Take Care Health Clinics, owned and located inside Walgreen’s pharmacies, are the market leader with retail clinics. And Walgreens plans to add more clinics next year.
These retail clinics, it appears, provide possibly provide a response to the shortage of primary care doctors that some believe exist, and possibly are an answer to other problems that exist in the health care system in the U.S., which includes delays in getting needed medical treatment, and incomplete assessment provided by your doctor presently due to variables such as the large volume of patients your doctor normally sees on a daily basis.
One could conclude that the retail clinics seem in a way more authentic than the dominant system, and may be more beneficial ultimately for the public health, with exceptions, of course, depending on the individual circumstances of the patient.
Dan Abshear

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:25:06 +0000

I agree with Michael.

Certain basic necessities of life must be provided by the Govt; they include education, healthcare, transportation infra-structure (like roads & bridges), etc.

What happens to the so called ‘private market-driven mortgage’ industry. The industry is interested in just making money and when they fail they expect the Govt to rescue them.

Govt must provide healthcare. For-profit health plans can not be the solution. Let us have a simplified Govt-controlled single-payer system. People are fed-up with for-profit health plans, big-oil, big-pharma, etc.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:51:03 +0000

Understandably, people are thoroughly frustrated with the current healthcare system.

First, SHUT DOWN the current system completely…to save this country. Millions of people, even with insurance, are scared to go to doctors for routine check-ups; in case they have any type major diseases (diabetes, heart disease, etc), they will lose their jobs and insurance absolutely.

What kind of system is this? Health plans want to have only healthy people as members; once they become ill, they will be dropped.

By: Fred

Fred — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:30:04 +0000

Yes, we need to have universal healthcare. Don’t we have universal education (k-12)? Then why not universal healthcare?

But, without containing cost, no system will work in US. There is only one way we can contain cost. That is by involving people in the payment process at least partially within the universal healthcare. Why not we make people pay a small percentage (say 10-30%) directly for every healthcare service they receive. After all, in any system people must be dissuaded from ‘overusing’ to make the system efficient.

Whatever we do, the current system must go without any delay; it is too complicated, too many people, too much of legal issues and above all it is just too expensive for the country to afford.

By: Paul Griffiths

Paul Griffiths — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:48:34 +0000

I understand the hospital’s viewpoint best, so I can say with certainty these clinics draw mixed reviews. I’ve seen other non-commercial entities, such as Shepard’s Hope (http://www.shepherdshope.org/), embraced since they are staffed by medical professionals who are donating their time.

I think much of the reasons these for-profit clinics are under suspicion has to do with the likelihood they will come de-facto primary care physicians for a class of people due to *price*. While this might be reality, it is an unexpected outcome and one that would be solved given universal coverage. Once you open the floodgates, you can’t ever close them, so we have effectively asked the free market to address what is usually thought of as a policy failing in the United States.

So which is better: embrace the reality of Walmart-style care or push for nationwide healthcare reform?

I think the concern is, a nation, we can’t really do both.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:07:10 +0000

It is a good news. Let the people decide what they want in consultation with their doctor and pay for the services directly. There is absolutely no need for a third party (health insurance) to get involved for every single service.

Let us compare auto-insurance for a moment: When I took my car for a regular service recently, my mechanic recommended a battery change and quoted $130. I had no problem with the battery even during this (past) harsh winter; also I know it costs only around $60 at Costco. I can easily go without change until next winter and even after that I will spend only around $60. IF it is covered by the insurance, it would have been changed at $130+ right away though it is not required now.

Exactly this is what happens in the healthcare system; people are not involved in the payment process and so ‘unnecessary’ services are provided/received…..result: exhorbitant cost to the system.

Let us have an ‘insurance-free’ services for all our regular health needs; we will have excellent and cost-effective services……plus all the choices in the world.

By: Michael H

Michael H — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:22:25 +0000

We must welcome these clinics. In fact, doctors also should open up their services for the individuals who are more than ready to pay directly to the doctors. In such cases, the cost will only be a fraction of what it will be when you involve the insurance companies.

Let us go for simpler solutions like these clinics. This is the only way, the cost will be affordable.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:03:53 +0000

Thanks Wal-Mart! Thats the way to go. In fact they should expand the system to include Primary Care Physicians with some basic medical equipment. People are eagerly awaiting such facilities.
Over 47 million people are uninsured and another 50 million are under-insured. These 100 million folks need access to care and Wal-Mart facilities would cost only a fraction what the current insurance system needs you to spend.
Simply insurance can not be the solution. It is just too complex and unaffordable. But beware of folks connected to Health Insurance companies, they will not let anything else succeed; I am sure they will talk so much perfect solution, etc. which simply does not exist.
Well done Wal-Mart!