In-store health clinics take off

[David S]

In-store health clinics take off
Quick, low-cost outlets prompt medical turf war
Jonnelle Marte / The Detroit News
During a very bad allergy flare-up, Crystal Armstrong knew she needed professional help, but without health insurance or a primary care doctor, treatment was likely to be expensive.
So she took a friend's advice and stopped by the Meijer store in Allen Park, where a nurse practitioner saw her as soon as she walked in. The bill for the visit was less than $50 and she was out of the door in 15 minutes with a prescription in hand. "It was a lot cheaper than going to the emergency room," said Armstrong, 23, who has been charged more than $200 for past emergency room visits for minor illnesses. "I was in and out."

Source: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007708270392


In my opinion the basic problem with health care in America is that its too expensive. Many people can't afford it and even huge companies like GM are struggling under the weight of health care costs for employees. Some folks think socialized health care is the answer. But that won't solve the basic problem of high costs. Doctors, nurses, and hospitals will still want to be paid for their services. The costs will just be paid via taxes rather than insurance costs or out of pocket.

But these health clinics offer a way to reduce costs, at least for minor problems, so I think they are a good idea. Its also an idea that Ron Paul suggested in one of his interviews.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Good idea

[Ban my account ffs!]

I agree.  This is a good idea and a way to alleviate the back up in many ERs. 

My only qualm would be that they should be held accountable to refer patients to a real hospital if the patient's condition warrants it.

And while these clinics are a good idea, they are by no means any kind of solution to our broken health care system.

[MODU]

I have no problem with them.  In some cases, they might be a better option than your classic urgent care center, and definitely cut down on the abuse of the emergency rooms of hospitals for non-emergency issues.

[David S]

And while these clinics are a good idea, they are by no means any kind of solution to our broken health care system.

No its not a solution but a step in the right direction.

[Person Man]

And while these clinics are a good idea, they are by no means any kind of solution to our broken health care system.

No its not a solution but a step in the right direction.

Yeah, It will give us another 5 years to argue about this. This is a time buyer, that's for sure.

[Lief 🗽]

It's a Bandaid on a broken arm.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Socialized medicine won't work, people.

[David S]

Socialized medicine won't work, people.

You're right about that. In almost every other aspect of our lives we rely on the competitive free market. We don't rely on government or insurance companies to buy our homes for us, or our food, or clothes, or cars or pay our utility bills. We do all those things ourselves. And it works fine. But health care is one area where government has the most involvement and its in the biggest crisis.

[AkSaber]

Hmmm. Maybe if these clinics really start catching on, could that make hospitals start to cut-down their prices?

[Verily]

Part of the problem of high costs is that doctors assume substantial risk for each patient they take on due to the threat of malpractice suits, which IMO are totally overblown these days. To some extent, these reduce that cost because the nurse in question probably can't be hit with such a suit - which is reasonable and useful.