| Retail healthcare clinics | Retail healthcare clinics are clinics based at retail stores including Wal-Mart, CVS, Target, and Walgreen’s. These retailers partner with “miniclinic” providers such as RediClinic and MinuteClinic. The clinics are staffed mainly by nurse practitioners who treat patients for routine conditions; however, in New York City, the retail clinic has upgraded to become the “walk-in doctor’s office” at Duane Reade stores. Critics of retail clinics argue that they do not offer comprehensive care, that they are not adequately regulated, and that retailers unethically steer patients to fill prescriptions at their stores. Advocates say the clinics are held to the same high standards as doctors’ offices and that they offer a faster and less expensive alternative to the doctor’s office or emergency room.
|
