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Basic health care may have just gotten easier, though controversial. The number of walk-in clinics in drugstores like Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart, and Duane Reade has grown over the past two years, and very little is slowing plans to add hundreds more across the country. Recent studies include shorter waiting times, lower costs, and immediate prescription filled clinics, in contrast to the more costly in time and travel to doctors. Most of these clinics also accept most health insurance plans, leaving little incentive for Americans on the march to wait days or weeks for lack of consultation specializing in conventional offices.
Rising health care costs, the decrease in the number of power afford private health insurance, and an insufficient number of primary care physicians across the country have been built up – perhaps inevitable – solution. Now one can walk into any number of seven hundred clinics located in pharmacies, and several chains of discount stores and be seen, on average, in less than twenty-five minutes. While the clinics are not recommended for anything but basic care – such as treating a cold, flu or minor infections – that is fine for many, especially those returning to school, who are often bombarded with common acute illnesses in the first round months.
In Texas, a state in which twenty-five percent of the population lacks health insurance, in particular, could benefit from health care options. A visit to a MinuteClinic, a wholly owned subsidiary of CVS Caremark, costs an average of eighteen dollars less than other primary care clinics, according to HealthPartners, a maintenance Minnesota health care organization. Emergency rooms across Dallas, Houston, Austin and the rest of the state are overburdened by the uninsured who seek basic non-emergency care, simply because they have nowhere else to go. Offering easier, cheaper access to basic diagnostic and treatment can alleviate some of the burden on individuals and local facilities overwhelmed by too many people and not enough funding.
Twenty percent of people in the United States have no or inadequate access to primary care, with few signs of that statistic will improve in the near future. In 2004, seventy-five percent of counties in Texas lacked a sufficient number of primary care physicians to meet local needs, and twenty – four counties had none at all. Pharmacy clinics often employ more cost-effective nurses and physician assistants – health workers with the ability to diagnose and treat everyday conditions, but are under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. These workers are increasingly popular within the industry, partly as a result of the shortage of family doctors.
But physician groups are protesting, and some with good reason. Many of these groups may lose substantial business, and are arguing that they may be unable to provide appropriate standards of care, including hygiene and safety. "We have big problems in health, and this is not the answer," said Rick Kellerman, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Many State officials agree, at least to some extent. The walk-in clinics are being overseen by a welter of agencies implementing a comprehensive and consistent with the rules and principles apply. After the Massachusetts medical groups issued strong protests to the proposed opening of a MinuteClinic, the Department of Health issued guidelines for the state, calling clearly specify facilities that are "limited service facilities. Medical Association U.S. is pressing for similar national requirements on pharmacy facilities, urging the federal and local governments require to be "well defined and limited [in] scope. "Two public hearings on the issue are scheduled in Massachusetts in September.
Conflicts of interest between the clinics and pharmacies can not be ignored, either. New York State regulators are investigating possible inappropriate relationships between companies pharmaceutical and medical providers. The risk is said to be from medical centers misused to enhance their business or to channel patients in their pharmacies adjacent. In some states, like New York, is also necessary for clinics to operate as an independent professional practice or business, ie should not be a part pharmacy chains themselves.
"If we determine the business corporations [like CVS] are the practice of medicine, then it's illegal practice of the profession and have the authority to investigate, "said Frank Munoz, deputy commissioner of New York State Education Department Office of Professions.
Duane Reade, a drugstore chain located mainly in the east coast, is trying to limit the possible complications associated with well-known hospitals such as Beth city New York Israel Medical Center and St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center. Duane Reade clinics will consist of doctors, nurses and medical assistants face, and have admitting privileges to the facilities of the association. These agreements give doctors the ability to send to those who need emergency care to stop the hospital, and streamline procedures for patients to see specialists. In addition, clinics that operate as private medical consultations, by doctors themselves, who rented the space of the corporation.
Michael C. Howe, CEO of MinuteClinic, ie over two hundred centers throughout the country, defend practices such as CVS, however. "We are transparent with regulators," he said, and concerns "being raised by people who have not really studied the model ".
Be aware of current events and issues affecting their health is an important part of caring for yourself. Caring undoubtedly affect their health as they age, and eventually your wallet.
About the Author:
Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at Precedent.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Drugstore Clinics Widespread, Despite Criticisms: Texas May See More Walk-In Options
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