Aisle 5: flu vaccines and strep tests!

[mshheaddoc]

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Supermarkets to have clinics in them ...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/02/03/clinics.instores.ap/index.html

what do y'all think of that? I think its a help, but their concern that people will start to use that as an ER/Primary Doc substitute is justified. I can see it being another ER epidemic or maybe this would help some of the ER visits as well as save consumers some money!

Having nurses and PA's run it is a great idea though!

 

[Beau Geste]

Supermarkets to have clinics in them ...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/02/03/clinics.instores.ap/index.html

what do y'all think of that? I think its a help, but their concern that people will start to use that as an ER/Primary Doc substitute is justified. I can see it being another ER epidemic or maybe this would help some of the ER visits as well as save consumers some money!

Having nurses and PA's run it is a great idea though!

I think it's great, too, as long as the nurses and PAs make sure to refer when appropriate. Otherwise, it's a good idea. I don't know about you, but the WalMart pharmacy is the closest pharmacy to me, so going to WalMart to see a PA and get a prescription if I had the flu would be awesome.

Although, if the waiting line is anything like the checkout line..... 😱

 

[ASDIC]

this has been posted in the MD/MBA forum as well

 

[DrBowtie]

I feel this will be the replacement and demise for FP.

 

[THP]

I think it's great, too, as long as the nurses and PAs make sure to refer when appropriate. Otherwise, it's a good idea. I don't know about you, but the WalMart pharmacy is the closest pharmacy to me, so going to WalMart to see a PA and get a prescription if I had the flu would be awesome.

Although, if the waiting line is anything like the checkout line..... 😱

It seems to me there would be way too much liability involved. What prevents a nurse from overstepper her level of expertise and treating a patient she probably shouldn't. All it takes is a few bad outcomes and these will be shut down real fast.

 

[Beau Geste]

It seems to me there would be way too much liability involved. What prevents a nurse from overstepper her level of expertise and treating a patient she probably shouldn't. All it takes is a few bad outcomes and these will be shut down real fast.

Would there be any more liability than there already is for NPs or PAs practicing in other clinics? The only thing different I see is the physical presence of a primary care doc, but that could be arranged.

I thought about what Brett said, too, but there are a lot of things keeping FPs busy - it would be good to watch the particular clinics that are already set up and see how the service delivery is and the effect on primary care physicians.

It's definitely something to talk about at interviews!

Check-out-aisle medicine?

 

[All4MyDaughter]

These clinics won't replace the work of a good FP. I see my FP regularly for management of chronic conditions that require more than an MD/PA/NP in a grocery clinic could take care of.

People don't walk out of these grocery store clinics with scripts for drugs for conditions that require long-term medical management. Examples: HBP, hypothyroid, high cholesterol, depression, type II diabetes. These conditions are the bread and butter of FP, at least for adult patients.

Saw a patient recently who was mad because the NP at one of these clinics refused to treat his toenail fungus with Lamisil. Good call - that would not be an appropriate use of this type of medical clinic. Too much involved in prescribing that one.

I'm a pharmacy intern and I fill scripts from these clinics (along with ones from other more traditional urgent care centers) quite a bit. We're talking antibiotics, topicals, cough medicine, in other words - one shot deals. I waited two long snotty days to see my FP when I had my last sinus infection. Kind of makes the grocery store clinic appealing.

They really aren't any different at all from the Immediate Care Centers, Urgent Care Centers, etc. that have been around for years.

 

[DrBowtie]

Would there be any more liability than there already is for NPs or PAs practicing in other clinics? The only thing different I see is the physical presence of a primary care doc, but that could be arranged.

I thought about what Brett said, too, but there are a lot of things keeping FPs busy - it would be good to watch the particular clinics that are already set up and see how the service delivery is and the effect on primary care physicians.

It's definitely something to talk about at interviews!

Check-out-aisle medicine?

While this is true for now, with diminishing interest in FP combined with expanded rights for midlevel providers, a shift in responsibility could save the government money and provide greater access.

What about the possibility for an NP/PA "residency" in FP. The salary gap between the two is closing and less schooling would be an incentive for more people to go this route.

This wouldn't and probably shouldn't eliminate the need for FP all together but it could be a cost effective way to increase the general health of the population. Many people are just too busy to go to the doc (due to work/children/etc.) so having them in places they already frequent makes sense. For those that feel having a long term relationship with an FP is your preference, "boutique" FP would still be available.

 

[deleted87716]

I feel this will be the replacement and demise for FP.

Not likely. For starters, this concept of drive-through medicine has yet to demonstrate long-term viability and profitability. If nothing else, it will hopefully prompt primary care physicians to become more accessible, and improve some of the "customer service" aspects of their practices.