My Word... What Can't You Get at Wal-Mart??

Mom2Chaos · Feb 15, 2008

I think that it is a good idea! Provide an affordable place for basics and leave the ER for the "true" emergencies.....

TiredMD · Feb 15, 2008

It will work great, because they will charge a transparent price that will cover costs and make a profit, and people will actually pay for the care they receive.

Health care was always a profitable business before insurance muddied the waters, and people stopped seeing how much things cost, and had to actually pay for the care they chose to receive.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2008

It will work as well as the MinuteClinics seem to working for CVS - gangbusters.

I love MinuteClinic. If I know what's up (like I KNOW I have an ear infection/URI - I get them all the time), I do not want to either sit in the Dr's office for two-three hours (or longer!) waiting as a drop-in or wait three days for an appointment. I want to go in, have the NP look at my ear, listen to my chest, hear me cough, and give me what I know I need: Scrip decongestant b/f it gets any worse (I get gunk in there and can't get it out), and a "just in case" scrip in the event that ear goes bad (once I get an infection, it doesn't stop; I have scar tissue on my left eardrum from it perforating from the pressure). If I don't need the abx, I don't fill it. She knows me, knows the deal, will probably run a rapid flu just to be sure, and I'm out in twenty minutes to get on with my life.

OH - and it's cheaper if I haven't met my deductible (which fortunately when I start my new job won't be an issue cuz I won't have one anymore!). Dr is $125; MinuteClinic here is $65. AWESOME. If my deductible's met, they charge me the copay. SWEET. 20% of 65 is a lot less than 20% of 125!

As long as they're good, qualified providers, I'll love it. Heck, when I get my NP I'd like to work in one part time!

flightnurse2b, LPN · Feb 15, 2008

i think it is a great idea! i agree with the PP that maybe it will keep some of the hang nails out of the ER....

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2008

AH-HA - I read the article more carefully. This sounds even better.

I wasn't aware Wal-mart had quick clinics already; I just figured they were going for the gusto!!

AmericanChai · Feb 15, 2008

I think it could be a good idea! I am not a nurse yet, but as a person who had to wait in ER with my child who had just broken her arm-- and had many people in front of me who had sore throats, ear infections, etc. that were using the ER in place of a doctor or urgent care, I say go for it. Let the ER be a place for true emergencies and send the less serious ailments to the clinic.

prowlingMA · Feb 15, 2008

Rite_Aid pharmacies have tried these " mini- clinics" in their pharmacies. The ones it my area always seemed pretty busy, but have since closed.

Katie82, RN · Feb 15, 2008

Wow. I wonder how well this will work for them?
http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/5651.aspx

Target has similar clinics in some areas, they call it the Minute Clinic. They are not linked to hospitals, but do accept some insurances. I have sent patients to Target and they were satisfied. They are limited as to who they will see, but for sore throats and sniffles they are great.

EmmaG, RN · Feb 15, 2008

i think it is a great idea! i agree with the PP that maybe it will keep some of the hang nails out of the ER....

Nope. Because these 'minute-clinics' demand payment when services are rendered.

luvmy3kids · Feb 15, 2008

Do they do labs at places like these?? I'm curious because I was dx'd with Strep a few weeks ago and I didn't get better over the weekend. My throat felt better, but I was nauseous and vomitting with a horrible headache. My doc told me to go to urgent care to be re-evaluated. At that point, I needed IV fluids and my creatinine was .... brace yourselves... 7.5 and I was dx'd with acute renal failure. I was admitted to the hospital and stayed for about a week until my levels dropped.

I'm just wondering... if I would have gone to a minute clinic to be re-checked for strep or something... what might have happened? Would they have caught something like that?? Because I had no idea how sick I really was. I waited in the Urgent care waiting area for 2 hours to get in a room, and then another hour for the Doc to come in. After that I had to go the the ER and go through everything again before I was admitted.

The urgent care I go to also now gives you a number. I was 74 and they were on 55 when I got there. I felt like I was in the return line at Target.

casi, ASN, RN · Feb 15, 2008

I think this is a great idea. I loved the idea of the NP PA run clinics in stores, but to see them expand their services is great. People need affordable walk-in care that covers urgent matters and preventative screening.

Minute clinics really don't do labs, but it sounds like this kind of clinic would be able too, at least they would be able to send labs out to a larger facility.