Walmart Health Clinics: Good or Bad

[Blue Blood]

So how do you guys feel about all the health clinics popping up. Especially the new Walmart clinics?
On one side I say let capitalism rule.
On the other side I think it may be letting it go too far..

What does everybody think?

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[Life Sucks]

Life is too sort to even care anymore. I guess it's like a Castle Dentistry?

 

[Blue Blood]

I can't imagine good health care could be provided for the prices they're charging..
What do I know though.

 

[allantois]

What state is that?

 

[Life Sucks]

I can't imagine good health care could be provided for the prices they're charging..
What do I know though.

You got a quote or article on this. I remember the eye care offices these places used to offer. I'm guessing they're like minute clinics like what walgreens has.

 

[Blue Blood]

What state is that?

South Carolina and Texas is their soft opening I think. They're just testing the waters at this point, but if their successful I can't see them passing it up in other states.

 

[Blue Blood]

You got a quote or article on this. I remember the eye care offices these places used to offer. I'm guessing they're like minute clinics like what walgreens has.

There are dozens of articles. Just do a quick Google search.

I guess they use NPs and it costs anywhere from $4 to $40. Who knows if it would work. I wouldn't want to go to Walmart for my health care..

 

[midweststudent1]

There are dozens of articles. Just do a quick Google search.

I guess they use NPs and it costs anywhere from $4 to $40. Who knows if it would work. I wouldn't want to go to Walmart for my health care..

Ehh I went to one for a tb test one time. Walked in and was seen in 5 minutes. Cash pay, outta there in 10 minutes.

Or I could have waited in a doctors office for an hr and paid more.

It's not a completely terrible idea, just a mostly bad idea lol

 

[masaraksh]

OMG that is so perfect. I wish I had thought of it myself. How else to provide health services to the bottom decile and the undocumented folk but to put the clinics in places where they normally shop. Might even have the good effect of de-crowding the EDs. Better yet, staff these places with cheap IMGs, give them zero benefits, and you've basically got a recipe for success a la WalMart

 

[67552931811]

So how do you guys feel about all the health clinics popping up. Especially the new Walmart clinics?
On one side I say let capitalism rule.
On the other side I think it may be letting it go too far..

What does everybody think?

I had to go to one to get a certain vaccine because I needed it ASAP and nowhere within a reasonable distance had it. The entire staff kept referring to the person wearing the long white lab coat as "the doctor". Of course said individual had their badge flipped around so you couldn't see their initials. But, luckily it flipped back around when they were walking and it said " Blah Blah, NP".

Even before this I thought it was total bull****. Now I do, just a little bit more. I should of just sat in traffic for hours. I feel like I violated my own personal ethics.

 

[deleted651092]

I think it's a good idea, it gives healthcare access to people who normally wouldn't have the opportunity. Not everyone can afford regular clinics.

 

[Life Sucks]

Ehh I went to one for a tb test one time. Walked in and was seen in 5 minutes. Cash pay, outta there in 10 minutes.

Or I could have waited in a doctors office for an hr and paid more.

It's not a completely terrible idea, just a mostly bad idea lol

True. I think what Op is meaning is with the reputation scam-mart has, no one should trust them with your health. Well, I see how they treat their employees... I wouldn't be shocked how they treat the NP's and doctors like crap. Let alone, Wal-Marts are usually being unsanitary. I guess we'll wait and see what wally world will do. Though, it is good more options are available for health care. I go to a clinic when I don't want to deal with a hospital, and it isn't so bad..

 

[Life Sucks]

I had to go to one to get a certain vaccine because I needed it ASAP and nowhere within a reasonable distance had it. The entire staff kept referring to the person wearing the long white lab coat as "the doctor". Of course said individual had their badge flipped around so you couldn't see their initials. But, luckily it flipped back around when they were walking and it said " Blah Blah, NP".

Even before this I thought it was total bull****. Now I do, just a little bit more. I should of just sat in traffic for hours. I feel like I violated my own personal ethics.

Interesting. My first time with a NP, no offense to the good ones, was bad. The guy just said verbatim what the doctor said, and didn't really make me feel a hundred percent agreeing what he said.

 

[Blue Blood]

True. I think what Op is meaning is with the reputation scam-mart has, no one should trust them with your health. Well, I see how they treat their employees... I wouldn't be shocked how they treat the NP's and doctors like crap. Let alone, Wal-Marts are usually being unsanitary. I guess we'll wait and see what wally world will do. Though, it is good more options are available for health care. I go to a clinic when I don't want to deal with a hospital, and it isn't so bad..

Like I think for the cost it's sorta a good idea for the poor/uninsured, but without physician backup and the reputation of Walmart I think it's a practice setup ripe for abuse.

 

[67552931811]

Interesting. My first time with a NP, no offense to the good ones, was bad. The guy just said verbatim what the doctor said, and didn't really make me feel a hundred percent agreeing what he said.

I have 0 issues with NPs and the nursing profession. My issues come with the unethical lobbying and the false claims said profession makes. But, I can't do anything about it at this point so I'll stop talking about it.

But, I hear you. I would never see a NP for actual healthcare.

 

[deleted651092]

I knew this'll end up being about NPs

predictable

 

[67552931811]

Edited to avoid derailment.

 

[67552931811]

I knew this'll end up being about NPs

predictable

That's because that is who these clinics use to provide healthcare, genius.

 

[deleted407021]

Walmart strong armed my city's council to keep out Kroger and Publix, so.....fck Walmart.

But if it brings good, safe care to more people who don't have access to similar services within their communities, it's cool I guess. I don't really like big companies.

 

[deleted651092]

That's because that is who these clinics use to provide healthcare, genius.

obviously. it's just funny how these posts end up as a place for pre-meds/med students to stroke their egos for choosing the "superior" route to being a healthcare provider

god forbid someone who can't afford to see a doctor goes to walmart to see an NP

 

[67552931811]

obviously. it's just funny how these posts end up as a place for pre-meds/med students to stroke their egos for choosing the "superior" route to being a healthcare provider

god forbid someone who can't afford to see a doctor goes to walmart to see an NP

I'll repeat from an earlier post, I have 0 issues with NPs. My issues come with the unethical lobbying and the false claims said profession makes.

 

[deleted651092]

I would never see a NP for actual healthcare

 

[67552931811]

I would never see a NP for actual healthcare

NPs are fine in the role that they are MEANT for, which isn't seeing patients without physician oversight. They don't have the training to act individually. Thus, why I would never see a NP.

 

[masaraksh]

Well if you're poor or undocumented and can't see a doctor then seeing an NP can't be worse than not seeing anyone at all.

What I'm interested in is how WalMart will make money off their clinics in order to cover the costs and even turn a profit.

I mean, WalMart's prime bread and butter customers are the working poor (or straight up poor). How do they get money from this demographic for healthcare services.

 

[Dr Van Helsing]

Personally, I think it is a good and bad thing. Overall, I believe that if it helps more people, it should be implemented. However, this advancement is yet another sign of the cheapening of the role of a physician. Laymen generally do not care what kind of health care they are receiving, as long as it is cheap and non-emergent. I think this situation is yet another notch in the wall of automation. Really, automation and advancement is inevitable.

Well if you're poor or undocumented and can't see a doctor then seeing an NP can't be worse than not seeing anyone at all.

What I'm interested in is how WalMart will make money off their clinics in order to cover the costs and even turn a profit.

I mean, WalMart's prime bread and butter customers are the working poor (or straight up poor). How do they get money from this demographic for healthcare services.

Wal-Mart will find a way to turn medicine into a cheap and expendable commodity.

 

[Iceandmedicine]

Texas and South Carolina are both states that have opted NOT to expand Medicaid under the ACA. If the Walmart clinics are offering "cheap and expendable" (the first of that is something that most would argue medicine should be...) to the uninsured and undocumented who simply cannot afford to see physicians in their clinics, then I really don't see the problem. Access to health care is a HUGE problem is many areas of the U.S., so if the government doesn't fix it, then Of course the corporations are going to step in and make a profit while they are at it.
Hell, I would pay $40 to go get some of my concerns addressed (by an NP! Gasp).

 

[masaraksh]

Yep, and if Walmart can figure it out you bet they'll also hire a bunch of IMGs for .50 on the dollar to minimize costs. They don't give a **** about quality. Hell, if I was walmart I wouldn't either - I have shareholders to please 🙂

 

[Dr Van Helsing]

Yep, and if Walmart can figure it out you bet they'll also hire a bunch of IMGs for .50 on the dollar to minimize costs. They don't give a **** about quality. Hell, if I was walmart I wouldn't either - I have shareholders to please 🙂

Yeah, it would be a perfect escape for all the rejects.
Why is this world so ****** up..

 

[midweststudent1]

My wife just had a horrible experience with a walgreens clinic....the NP was an idiot. And by idiot I mean---doesn't have a clue about what's going on. And rude. I swear, it's time docs buckle up and take these places to town.

 

[FutureOncologist]

They have the same thing at Walgreens. Why is this huge news to you OP.

To be fair though, I got an inner ear infection from a water park and the walgreens doctor/NP misdiagnosed it as excess earwax buildup and sent me home with some H2O2. Only 3 weeks later, in agonizing pain and 4 hours of sleep/night, did I visit my PCP. She diagnosed the infection and prescribed special ear drops. Cleared it up in 3 days.

Maybe people will get crappy doctors. Or maybe they'll get U.S.-trained FM's/PCP's looking for some extra cash working 9-5 on weekends with good benefits.

 

[optimistic3]

Some Target stores have had clinics in their stores for years. I've even visited one myself. It's extremely convenient to be able to just walk in. I don't see how Walmart's clinics would be different than those at Target, Walgreens, or CVS. They are all run by NPs.

 

[midweststudent1]

They have the same thing at Walgreens. Why is this huge news to you OP.

To be fair though, I got an inner ear infection from a water park and the walgreens doctor/NP misdiagnosed it as excess earwax buildup and sent me home with some H2O2. Only 3 weeks later, in agonizing pain and 4 hours of sleep/night, did I visit my PCP. She diagnosed the infection and prescribed special ear drops. Cleared it up in 3 days.

Maybe people will get crappy doctors. Or maybe they'll get U.S.-trained FM's/PCP's looking for some extra cash working 9-5 on weekends with good benefits.

If a NP misses an ear infection, what the heck are they doing working in a UC? I'm down on them a lot lately, but that's just because I'm seeing some of the effects of their increasing numbers and influence

 

[Make Or Break]

If a NP misses an ear infection, what the heck are they doing working in a UC? I'm down on them a lot lately, but that's just because I'm seeing some of the effects of their increasing numbers and influence

Let them. Until the general public learns, these clowns will keep on trying to be the same as a doctor.

 

[Psai]

Why is this thread so long? Walmart anything is bad

 

[mimelim]

Why is this thread so long? Walmart anything is bad

Most people on a budget would disagree with this.

 

[ZX10R]

I think the pool of people this is going to attract were never going to go to the Hospital/ER in the first place.

 

[midweststudent1]

Most people on a budget would disagree with this.

I'm on dave ramsey budget, living on one income in med school (teacher --not a lot of $$) and I'll say that walmart is definitely not the cheapest place to shop

 

[NickNaylor]

The idea of the Minute Clinic (Target), the CVS equivalent, the Walmart equivalent, or whatever clinic-in-a-retail-store is pretty indistinguishable in my view from urgent care clinics short of the provider that sees you (typically an NP rather than an MD). I don't see them as being an avenue by which actual high-quality, long-term basic care is provided. It's the kind of place you go to if you have the sniffles and need an antibiotic or whatever relatively simple complaint just about any M4 could likely manage. I think you would get laughed out of the clinic if you tried to show up wanting management advice for your diabetes, multi-therapy hypertension, and other complex health problems.

So, no, I'm not really convinced these clinics are actually bringing quality healthcare to the masses. It's simply providing a cheaper option for people that otherwise don't see a provider on a regular basis to get "emergency," one-time care as problems come up.