A Personal Experience of a Retail Medical Clinic

What the heck is a retail medical clinic? I didn't know either until I came down with a horrible cold while out of town visiting a friend. Set up in her local CVS, was a small area of the clinic set back by the pharmacy. Desperate on that Sunday morning and not wanting to go to the local emergency room, I decided to check out the clinic. After filling out the medical forms and with less than a 5 minute wait, I met with the nurse practitioner. She reviewed my history and within 10 minutes I had finished, prescription in hand, headed to the pharmacist.

While I was on my way to feeling better, I could not help but feel strange over this "drive-thru" medical experience. As indicated on the brochure in the waiting area, the clinic was set up to handle non-urgent issues such as colds, sore throats, flu shots, etc... But should reading off a menu be what healthcare is about? I recognize that the healthcare system is suffering a shortage of primary care physicians and that too many people are using the emergency room as a doctor's visit to treat a runny nose. But I don't believe that the solution is to provide "quickie" medicine.

It took me three years, and a number of visits to my primary care physician to develop a rapport and open communication line. She knows my history and can work with me to address my health care needs. When I've had issues, we have worked together to solve them. I'm lucky. I realize that most people have an acquaintance relationship with their doctor (at best). So they show up for a quick, "Fix me up doc!" and want to be on their way.

The concept that health care is a 5 minute visit and the latest prescription is a fallacy. The majority of the country's healthcare burdens are about long term chronic diseases. People have stopped taking care of themselves. They somehow expect that after years of poor diet, lack of exercise, and unmitigated stress that their doctor can step in and "fix" their problems. While doctors undergo vigorous study and clinical experience, no doctor can prescribe a magic pill to make it all better. The reality is that the body heals itself and that means we, as patients, have the obligation to take care of ourselves. Our doctors should be there to guide and support our efforts. Good health is a collaboration of patient and doctor.

It seems to me that retail medical clinics are a great tool by the pharmaceutical and insurance companies to keep the patient masses uneducated, quickly processed, and chemically dependent. It's unfortunate, but very little of this has anything to do with good health. So as for me, retail medical clinics are really just more of the same "5 minute medicine." I'm not interested in perpetuating this healthcare model. The next time I'm sick, I'll stay home and rest then see my doctor on Monday.