Comments on: Are In-Store Clinics an Answer? http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/05/07/are-in-store-clinics-an-answer/ Dr. John Grohol's daily update on all things in psychology and mental health. Since 1999. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:30:17 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lynn http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/05/07/are-in-store-clinics-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-663059 Lynn Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:18:19 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=1426#comment-663059 Just so you know, the clinics at CVS now take insurance. Also, nowadays many many Americans do not have health insurance or have a high deductible. $60 versus $600 if they had to go to the ER for something like a simple infection? Not to mention all waiting at the ER? Plus, before I switched doctors it was almost impossible to get a same day appt and going to a scheduled appt took over an hour to see a doctor for 10 minutes or less. I have never used these clinics for more than just vaccinations, but I can see the need. Also, a lot of people don't have primary care physicians, don't live near them (the case with many college students), or see their primary care phsycian so infrequently, it's almost like not having one. If you are in a bind, I can see the need. While it's not an ideal solution to our healthcare woes, I applaud CVS for trying to do something. Just so you know, the clinics at CVS now take insurance. Also, nowadays many many Americans do not have health insurance or have a high deductible. $60 versus $600 if they had to go to the ER for something like a simple infection? Not to mention all waiting at the ER? Plus, before I switched doctors it was almost impossible to get a same day appt and going to a scheduled appt took over an hour to see a doctor for 10 minutes or less. I have never used these clinics for more than just vaccinations, but I can see the need.

Also, a lot of people don’t have primary care physicians, don’t live near them (the case with many college students), or see their primary care phsycian so infrequently, it’s almost like not having one. If you are in a bind, I can see the need. While it’s not an ideal solution to our healthcare woes, I applaud CVS for trying to do something.

]]> By: Mekay http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/05/07/are-in-store-clinics-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-202814 Mekay Fri, 11 May 2007 20:19:26 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=1426#comment-202814 This article seems to be full of experimenter bias so to say and doesn't truly present any facts. The type of walk in clinics that CVS has purposed do not seem very different than after hours clinics or walk in clinics that are already ramped across the nation, the only obvious difference is that these clinics will be inside a CVS instead of in a separate building. Just to play the devils advocate I would have to argue that these clinics can help in emergent situations such as bladder infections which are often frequent for females, severe colds, sinus infections, stomach viruses, etc that come on rather quickly. In these cases many PCP (Primary Care Physicians) are already booked and not able to see a person immediately and a wait of three or four days can be detrimental in each of these cases, the bladder infection extends to the kidneys and the cold turns into an upper respiratory infection. These types of clinics allow people to be seen quickly and start healing. If further investigation is needed a follow up appointment can be made with a PCP but in these urgent cases care is necessary and the ER is much more expensive, about $500 a trip and that's with insurance. As far as insurance is concerned I am aware of at least two after hours clinics in my area that take insurance which brings the co-pay down considerably. A PCP having access to your past medical history was mentioned as well. To this I must say that an extensive understanding of a person's medical history is not always necessary for a cold or bladder infection and anyone over the age of 16 probably knows their own medical history well enough to express concerns to and answer questions of the medical staff at a CVS. As far as Alex's reply; the article does purpose some good points but if it is life threatening the ER would be more appropriate than a CVS and changes in society will never occur if we "accept it the way it is". I don't see how having things ready that may increase our probability of obtaining health care can be "not good for our development". This argument seems a little silly to me. All in all why not support the trial CVS clinic. If it truly damaged the healthcare system or healthcare provisions I'm sure the FDA or some other regulatory organization would shut it down. Sometimes change is good. This article seems to be full of experimenter bias so to say and doesn’t truly present any facts. The type of walk in clinics that CVS has purposed do not seem very different than after hours clinics or walk in clinics that are already ramped across the nation, the only obvious difference is that these clinics will be inside a CVS instead of in a separate building. Just to play the devils advocate I would have to argue that these clinics can help in emergent situations such as bladder infections which are often frequent for females, severe colds, sinus infections, stomach viruses, etc that come on rather quickly. In these cases many PCP (Primary Care Physicians) are already booked and not able to see a person immediately and a wait of three or four days can be detrimental in each of these cases, the bladder infection extends to the kidneys and the cold turns into an upper respiratory infection. These types of clinics allow people to be seen quickly and start healing. If further investigation is needed a follow up appointment can be made with a PCP but in these urgent cases care is necessary and the ER is much more expensive, about $500 a trip and that’s with insurance. As far as insurance is concerned I am aware of at least two after hours clinics in my area that take insurance which brings the co-pay down considerably. A PCP having access to your past medical history was mentioned as well. To this I must say that an extensive understanding of a person’s medical history is not always necessary for a cold or bladder infection and anyone over the age of 16 probably knows their own medical history well enough to express concerns to and answer questions of the medical staff at a CVS. As far as Alex’s reply; the article does purpose some good points but if it is life threatening the ER would be more appropriate than a CVS and changes in society will never occur if we “accept it the way it is”. I don’t see how having things ready that may increase our probability of obtaining health care can be “not good for our development”. This argument seems a little silly to me. All in all why not support the trial CVS clinic. If it truly damaged the healthcare system or healthcare provisions I’m sure the FDA or some other regulatory organization would shut it down. Sometimes change is good.

]]> By: Alex http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/05/07/are-in-store-clinics-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-202335 Alex Thu, 10 May 2007 00:38:53 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=1426#comment-202335 You have a good point. I think it's not necessary unless it's life threatening. As long as it's not deadly, we must accept the way it is. Having things ready all the time is not a good for our development. You have a good point. I think it’s not necessary unless it’s life threatening. As long as it’s not deadly, we must accept the way it is. Having things ready all the time is not a good for our development.

]]> By: Vic http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/05/07/are-in-store-clinics-an-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-202069 Vic Wed, 09 May 2007 07:26:56 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=1426#comment-202069 I think it's about choice. If some are desperately in need of a consultation without any delays, it's their sacrifice to make. For those who can wait, they can stick with their usual clinic. I think it’s about choice. If some are desperately in need of a consultation without any delays, it’s their sacrifice to make. For those who can wait, they can stick with their usual clinic.

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