Minute Clinics

[jathan007]

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I saw a report on NBC nightly news about minute clinics popping all over the country in local pharmacy stores. They hire PAs and Nurse Practitioners to diagnose and treat common illness (here is a link that lists the common things the clinic treats: http://208.42.165.19/en/USA/Treatment-and-Cost.aspx). Their argument is that it is more convenient and cost effective. How do you think this will impact doctor's and their practices? Will we see less patients or actually see more due to referrals from these clinics for more serious cases?

 

[Jacks Mannequin]

Don't PAs have to work under a physician?

 

[Wanna_B_Scutty]

Don't PAs have to work under a physician?

^^^ Yes, but the physician needn't be on-site. Many times, the supervising Doc is 5 hours away and only checks in via phone-call.

As to how I feel about them? Pretty mixed feelings. On the one hand, med students are running away screaming from primary care residencies... and with good reason! That, combined with ED overflows and long wait-times to see your area doc make this kind of a good thing.

On the other hand, there are many stories out there of mid-levels "missing" serious diagnoses that strolled into their Minute Clinics. The clinics are also seriously encroaching on the turf of primary care docs and have the potential to steal away business. Finally, they threaten continuity of care, in that many people will go to the Minute Clinic for their day-to-day needs, and only show up to their docs for those things that absolutely require an MD.

So yeah, I don't feel awesome about them, but I'm not going to start any serious protests. And, given their convenience and low pricing, I suspect that they're here to stay... at least for now.

 

[Mardi-Bob]

👍 Most of the crap they will see will be a waste for a doctor to see, and if effective should help alleviate some stress from ERs.

Since I'm too lazy to read up on any details about these minute clinics thats about all the glancing opinion I can afford to expel. 😀