Physicians are becoming alarmed:
Dr. Frank Madda of the DuPage County Medical Society said chain clinics “will certainly drive many family-practice physicians, pediatricians and internists out of business. This will result in a decrease in the availability of physicians for all patients.”
I don’t think that physicians will go out of business because of this, but it does highlight an important consumer priority. Simply stated, patients want access and their doctors to be on time – which is what these clinics cater to. Those that adapt to these demands will be fine. Those that don’t will indeed find themselves losing business.
Related posts:
- Retail clinic talk
- The retail clinic era is over, and why pharmacy-based clinics are doomed to fail
- Retail clinic growing pains
- A retail clinic chain closes
- Why would a doctor stop seeing patients?
- Chantix panic?
- The uninsured . . .
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{ 5 comments }
In previous posts there has been this assumption that the care is not as good at a walk-in clinic or that the health care provider will spend less time with the patient. I haven’t found that to be the case at all. I have had equally good care in both places, and the physician (it wasn’t an NP) in the walk-in clinic actually spent MORE time with me than the other way around. In addition, the walk-in clinic provided quicker access. I welcome the idea of more walk-in clinics & wouldn’t hesitate to use one again.
Sounds more like patients, who have lost fat health care benefits, are unwilling to subsidize medical 90210 lifestyles. It is just amazing to see providers whining when they have to deal with a competitive marketplace.
Some people never miss a chance to bash a doctor for the money he makes. Now I know what it feels like to be a lawyer.
For what it’s worth, these walk-in clinics target primary care doctors for competition — that is, the doctors who make the least money (though admittedly, still a lot). So the net result of walk-in clinics will be more specialists and fewer primary care docs. Good or bad, that’s the fact.
As a PCP, I am not afraid of walk-in clinics. All they can do is take care of acutely ill patients — cough and cold, sore throats. They are not equipped to handle the chronically ill.
If my supply of minor sick visits dries up and all I get is people with chronic heart problems, diabetes, etc. I will be happy. I would rather manage more challenging patients.
You are such a jackass…those minor visits are easy and the chronic visits take a lot longer…are you some kind of masochist?
The fact of the matter is that most acute conditions seen at these clinics are self-limited. Whether seen by a doctor or nurse all many of these patients need is reassurance, and the obligatory prescription antibiotic, decongestant, and pain reliever feeds Walgreen’s coffers. Where is Pete Stark when he’s needed?
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