In fact, the number of retail clinics rose by more than 11 percent last year, according to a report by Merchant Medicine, a research and consulting firm that tracks the growth and services of retail clinics. Moreover, the number of people using walk-in retail clinics to treat common illness such as respiratory infections, ear aches and the flu has increased tenfold in the last two years, according to a recent study released by the Rand Corporation. These retail clinics include MinuteClinic in CVS pharmacies and Take Care Health Systems in Walgreens. Supermarkets such as Safeway and Walmart are also hoping to become bigger players in the health clinic market. At many locations you don’t need an appointment, can check wait times online, and many major insurance plans are accepted or will reimburse your costs (ask your insurance provider if retail clinics are covered). Staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, many of these health professionals can even write prescriptions. Jennifer A. Reinhold, B.A., Pharm.D., BCPS, assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and a Prevention Advisory Board Member, says retail clinics are a good option to treat the following health issues: •minor scrapes or burns •colds, flu, and mono •allergies •chronic conditions that you’ve been treated for previously, such as migraines or eczema, that require a prescription •immunizations and flu shots •minor skin procedures, such as wart removal or stitches •sprains •preventative health screenings, such as blood pressure and blood glucose checks •sports physicals “Obviously if you have a life-threatening medical issue, such as chest pain, you should visit the emergency room,” says Reinhold. Also, these clinics aren’t meant to replace the relationship that you have with a primary care provider, says Gabriel Weissman, a spokesman for Take Care Health Systems in Walgreens. “We’re expanding our relationships with primary care providers to help provide greater continuity in care, but extending healthcare to retail clinics gives you more access and convenience.” If your particular problem can’t be treated onsite by a nurse practitioner, the nurses at Walgreens can work with your doctor, or collaborating physicians who will be available within 48 hours, to ensure you get the proper treatment. Reinhold agrees that the increasing cooperation between retail clinics, hospitals, and physician groups is a win-win situation. “Anytime you have a physician onboard, it’s a benefit,” she says. “This collaboration allows healthcare professionals access to patient records for more comprehensive care and greater buy-in from both the patients and the doctors.” Besides the convenience of being able to walk into your local store seven days a week as well as evenings for treatment, retail clinics could also cut health care costs. Even if you don’t have insurance, the charge for a physical typically starts around $69, while it may be closer to $100 at doctors’ offices. Retail clinics may also save patients $279 to $460 per visit when compared with emergency room costs—and as many as one in four ER visits could be handled at a retail or urgent care clinic, according to the journal Health Affairs. Some experts worry about a possible conflict of interest between the clinic staff that are writing prescriptions and the pharmacies they’re serving. “The interesting thing about these clinics is that the majority are run by nurse practitioners rather than pharmacists, and the pharmacies are often separate entities because most, such as CVS, don’t run the companies that own the in-store clinics,” says Reinhold. With a shortage of primary care physicians—and millions more people entering the healthcare system when universal health insurance is mandated in 2014—these retail clinics may be even more in demand for people looking for quick and easy access to care. Would you go to a retail clinic for preventative care or to treat an illness?
