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

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Wow. I wonder how well this will work for them?

http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/5651.aspx

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

:bowingpur:lol2:

What's sad is the truth in the statement....

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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.

At the MinuteClinic there are certain tests they'll do - rapid strep and flu are two of them.

I don't know what they'd do at these Wal-Mart clinics, although my guess is there'd be some simple labs available.

And on another note - I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE OK!!! :redpinkhe

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great places for when you need a quick visit minus the hassle of going to or trying to get an appointment at the dr's office. but the bums will always be hanging out in the er.

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Specializes in CNA, EMT.

The McDonalds of healthcare.

Less nose-sucking and throat-swabbing for us in the ER.

I'm all for it. :up:

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

They have something similar at Meijer's too. I cannot remember the name. Same basic principle.

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Specializes in NICU.

I haven't tried any Walmart ones, but I have used another store's quick clinic and I love them. In and out, the co-pay is not much higher than my doctor's office and I can fill my scrip and pick up any OTC meds all at the same place (I realize this benefits the store, but it benefits me, too :)). The visit is very focused, which saves us all time. And they give me a copy of their notes and offer to send them to my MD if I so desire. Usually, I decline that part, I can't imagine my MD will be all that interested in my sinus infection, LOL.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
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.

Affordable, convenient healthcare?

NO! Only the government can do THAT. Just say no to the free market! (If stuff like this works, how on earth can universal healthcare get through Congress?) First, generic drugs at market driven prices, and now, THIS?!

They're just trying to drive the mom and pop Big Corporation Insurance Companies out of business!

Quick, file an anti-trust suit!!!

~faith,

Timothy

(And IF you don't know me on this site, ALL OF THAT is tongue - in - cheek)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

So far as those that won't pay anyway will still go to the ED, there are 2 really simple cures for that:

1 - Co-Pay out Medicaid. Those on MY dole shouldn't get a better deal than me and ME? - I have to pay $125 dollar co-pay to use the ED.

2 - Triage and refuse to treat non-emergencies in the EMERGENCY room. That takes doctors and administration with backbone. EMTALA doesn't say everybody must be treated; it says everybody must be screened.

In any case, the more the average person that DOES have a co-pay to use the ED is able to opt-out and get quick, convenient care without the hours long waits, the EDs will become ever more a drain on hospitals (because now, all the co-pays and their insurance are going 'wal-mart' with their dollars). As that kills the hospital business model (paying customers subsidize non-paying ones), the 2 cures I mentioned above will be employed more and more to lure back 'paying customers'. So, ultimately, a thriving clinic system WILL change the dynamic of the ED. Adapt or perish - THAT's the free market advantage over government.

Expect EDs to go to a profit-seeking business model with more deals like 'seen in 30 min or it's free!' In order to actually do that, they will have to weed out the non-profit, non-EMTALA care. 5 Minute Evaluation: 1. Screen - 2. wallet biopsy - 3. street the ones that can't pay AND don't need to be in the ED.

It's a culture that needs to be changed. Once those that overuse the system understand that going to the ED for garbage is going to cost them nothing but time, with the result gained of nothing but time wasted, they will self-screen whether it's worth it to waste their time KNOWING they will be dumped to the curb if it's not a true emergency.

A clinic system like Wal-mart might not DIRECTLY reduce the no-pay/no-emergency free riders, but it will indirectly put pressure on the business model to adapt and discourage such use.

~faith,

Timothy.

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So far as those that won't pay anyway will still go to the ED, there are 2 really simple cures for that:

1 - Co-Pay out Medicaid. Those on MY dole shouldn't get a better deal than me and ME? - I have to pay $125 dollar co-pay to use the ED.

2 - Triage and refuse to treat non-emergencies in the EMERGENCY room. That takes doctors and administration with backbone. EMTALA doesn't say everybody must be treated; it says everybody must be screened.

In any case, the more the average person that DOES have a co-pay to use the ED is able to opt-out and get quick, convenient care without the hours long waits, the EDs will become ever more a drain on hospitals (because now, all the co-pays and their insurance are going 'wal-mart' with their dollars). As that kills the hospital business model (paying customers subsidize non-paying ones), the 2 cures I mentioned above will be employed more and more to lure back 'paying customers'. So, ultimately, a thriving clinic system WILL change the dynamic of the ED. Adapt or perish - THAT's the free market advantage over government.

Expect EDs to go to a profit-seeking business model with more deals like 'seen in 30 min or it's free!' In order to actually do that, they will have to weed out the non-profit, non-EMTALA care. 5 Minute Evaluation: 1. Screen - 2. wallet biopsy - 3. street the ones that can't pay AND don't need to be in the ED.

It's a culture that needs to be changed. Once those that overuse the system understand that going to the ED for garbage is going to cost them nothing but time, with the result gained of nothing but time wasted, they will self-screen whether it's worth it to waste their time KNOWING they will be dumped to the curb if it's not a true emergency.

A clinic system like Wal-mart might not DIRECTLY reduce the no-pay/no-emergency free riders, but it will indirectly put pressure on the business model to adapt and discourage such use.

~faith,

Timothy.

Timothy - our ER gets a great many of those on Title 19, with complaints of sunburn, rashes, sniffly noses, etc.

It's always been my thought that unless it's a true medical emergency, then a co-pay should be with held from their benefits. I don't care if it's only $5, it might make some of them think twice about coming in for silly things.

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I like the idea. It makes health care more accessible and is a good opportunity for nurse practitioners!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg.

Last year the glands in my jaws were swollen and painful to the point in which I could not eat. I had no clue as to what was happening to me, as I had never had that happen before, and immediately called my doctor. I couldn't get an appointment until the following day. So, I called my friend, who is an ICU doctor in another city, and asked what he thought I should do. He told me to go to the emergency room. I am the type of person who does not like going to emergency rooms unless there is a true emergency, and I have never been seen in one in my adult life, so far. Well, I decided not to follow his advice and instead went to a clinic inside of Walgreen's. I saw a NP who did a test for strep, examined me, and asked me questions about my condition. She determined that I had a virus that would go away in a few days, and she was right! My insurance covered the costs, and the only thing I had to pay was the copay. I much prefer the clinics for minor cases to the ER.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg.

Also, there was no waiting (as I was the only patient there). I think these store clinics are great, and the really cool thing is that if there are many patients at one clinic, people can just go to another one!

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