Docs Split on Big-Box Clinics
June 27, 2007 — -- Calls by the American Medical Association for a federal investigation into walk-in health clinics in "big-box" stores like Wal-Mart and Target have spurred a debate that could shape the way many Americans seek health care in years to come.
On one side are proponents of the clinics, who argue that they provide affordable and accessible care to those who might not ordinarily be able to get it.
On the other side are those who say such clinics fall short of offering a full spectrum of care, and that the medical professionals who work there could be tainted by conflict of interest.
"I think that it's a tough issue because we want to make sure patients get quality care," said Dr. Neil Brooks, former president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, who attended the AMA meeting this week.
"But we also need to make sure that the care is provided in settings that are appropriate and that it is within their scope of practice."
The clinics, which go by the names MinuteClinic, RediClinic and Take Care Health, are popping up in major stores, including Wal-Mart, CVS, Target and Walgreens.
And like the services offered by big-box stores or fast-food joints, they give customers an inexpensive and convenient alternative, in this case to the wait time of doctor's offices or the high cost of emergency rooms.
There are now 200 of these clinics operating in the country, and another 1,000 are projected to open by the end of the year.
Usually, these walk-in clinics are staffed by a nurse practitioner with physician oversight. They offer a menu of prices for treating a range of minor illnesses, such as sinus infections and strep throat.
If needed, the clinic can refer a patient with a more serious malady to a physician's office in the area.
But for many consumers, the main selling point of such clinics is that they offer affordable care.
In Minnesota, for example, seeing a doctor for a sore throat and getting a strep test costs an average of $109. A visit to a hospital emergency room for the same problem averages $328. MinuteClinic charges $48.
