It’s about time our professional societies joined the 21st century – I’m still waiting for the ACP to start one. Here’s what they say about the upcoming MinuteClinics set to invade Massachusetts:
They could kill our fragile primary care system. Our primary care network is already in crisis. Allowing mini-clinics to skim the easy, less complex patients might be the death knell of primary care, and our community health centers, too. Who would pick up the slack if that happens? Our emergency departments, of course, which are already over capacity. In other words, these clinics could replace what already exists — with something worse.
That’s a salient point. However, they’re coming whether you want them or not. It’s better to partner with these clinics rather than try to regulate them, because that’s not happening anytime soon. (via ConciergeDoc)
