Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

Retail store-based health care is on the rise in the United States, as it is estimated there will be 700 by the end of 2007, and by the end of 2008 they'll increase to 2,000, said industry trade group Convenient Care Association.

The trade group also estimates about 7 percent of Americans have already tried one of the clinics.

Most of the clinics are staffed by nurses who offer fast services for more routine health conditions like colds and bladder infections to sunburn, as an AP report says.

Concerning the speed and quality of service, Susan Anthony, a user of clinic services said, "I was frankly very impressed with how thorough (the examination) was. And it was fast. I walked in at 10:30 a.m. and was in my car a little after 11:00 a.m."
 
Of course the American Medical Association, which represents the doctors who are being competed with through these clinics are throwing out the usual scare tactics to undermine the creative effort.

While some Doctor's offices are responding with market measures like developing their own clinics and extending their office hours, others are going the old route of attempting to influence the development by trying to bring in regulations that would make it difficult or impossible to work under.

A increasing number of states have passed legislation to offer more definition to what the role of nurses are at these clinics. Estimates are 23 states at this time allow nurses to treat patients on their own. Others require the involvement of a physician. There's a lot of variation from state to state.

One representative from the Convenient Care Association said the clinics in stores are held to the same standards that any doctors' office is.

Another thing the AMA is attempting to do is to ban the health insurance companies from waiving or lowering co-payments for clinic patients. They content its a conflict of interest.

Dr. David Plocher, the senior medical officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, said that "the normal market forces should determine such things."

He's right of course, but the AMA says they're not opposing this for economic reasons, which is a bunch of bull, as there's not doubt they would lose business as patients that are insured go other places for quick and less expensive care for minor problems.
 
How are they as far as the business side goes? They are excellent businesses. It only takes about 12 to 18 months to break even. The best products continue to be pharmaceutical, as an average of one drug prescription per patient is the average, and it also brings in additional sales from the added traffic as well.

It's great to see market forces look for ways to better serve consumers. The service by these clinics are fast and efficient, and customers pay a lot less and spend a far less time than they would a doctor's office or emergency room.

While it'll have a limited impact on the overall cost of health care, it is a first step toward finding solutions that only the market will be able to provide. I like the first steps they're taking.