Drug store clinics are set to invade Massachusetts. Old-school doctors in Boston are not happy:
Dr. Allan Goroll, an internist at Massachusetts General Hospital, said the opening of clinics in CVS stores and in Walmarts in other states reflects “the sorry state of primary care in America.” He said insurers underpay primary care doctors, leading to a physician shortage. One answer, he said, is more investment by payers in primary care practices.“We don’t need another doc- or nurse-in-the-box practicing in isolated, uncoordinated fashion and burdening practices with requests for information” about patients they are not familiar with, he said in an e-mail.
I agree with everything said. However, it is unlikely that reimbursement will improve anytime soon. Instead of opposing this, PCPs should work together with these clinics, using them as a source of referrals.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Despite the myriad pressures on PCPs from every conceivable side, the best way to combat the evil MinuteClinic Menace is to compete the in the same niche: seeing patients in first-come, first-served order at an inexpensive price (if they are uninsured). Even if it’s just for an hour or two each day. (Say, between 1pm and 3pm.)
Naturally, you’d have to start thinking and planning for this 3-4 months ahead of time.
Or, you know, just get a PA or NP in the office with you and reserve him/her for only the types of things a MinuteClinic will treat…
Railing against clinics like these isn’t going to solve what is essentially a problem of competition — created by a niche that is currectly underserved.
It is time for PCP’s to grow up and realize that in the adult world, people will take you for what they can, and to trust or beg third party payors to recognize their true worth is a losing proposition. To work with these clinics is just more of the same old belief that is you are cooperative and freindly and work hard enough to make everyone happy, they will give you what you want.
What PCP’s need to do is to determine what their time is worth, and charge it, and refuse to participate in any third party programs that don’t recognize that, and if time opens up in the schedule as a result then fire some employees, trade down for a smaller house and get a hobby, but stick to their guns. Some patients will want a PCP and pay them for it. The others will go to the guideline technicians (NP’s, PA mills, etc) which is where the big boys are determined to send everyone anyway who will go along with them. The institutions are out to destroy primary care as a part of the medical profession and you are only cooperating in your own execution. Stand up now while there is still a generation of American’s alive who think they are supposed to see a doctor when sick, or never stand up for yourselves at all.
Evil Minute Clinic? That’s like Pep Boys calling Jiffy Lube evil. I’m shocked, shocked that a business wants to protect its turf by degrading a competitor.
This actually helps out the system by removing those that just have a minor ailment from clogging up the hospital system — which can then concentrate on more serious cases that probably have a greater payout (er I mean reimbursement).
“Evil Minute Clinic? That’s like Pep Boys calling Jiffy Lube evil. I’m shocked, shocked that a business wants to protect its turf by degrading a competitor.”
I assume that’s being directed at me, in which case I must apologize for my sarcasm not coming across particularly well.
I don’t think MinuteClinics are evil. I think they were created by the health care machine itself, and ultimately by doctors leaving no time available for non-emergency, but acute cases.
I think this is a great idea. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get an appointment with a PCP. Do you have any idea how much it cost to go to ER for urgent , but non emergency care????????