Is Walgreens becoming the new Kaiser Permanente? With the growing popularity of medical walk-in clinics, big-time HMOs may have a lot to learn about the value of convenience and user-friendliness in patient care. What’s all the buzz about retail walk-in clinics? Find out here.
24-hour chronic care
Got a sprained ankle or sore throat? Skip urgent care, and walk into your nearest Walgreens. Their retail clinic provides prescription refills, health tests, and immunizations. Recently, they have expanded their medical services, with the addition of the “Take Care” walk-in clinic, which offers diagnosing for chronic illness such as diabetes, high cholesterol and asthma on a walk-in basis… …Seven days a week, no appointment necessary, and for patients ages 18 months and over; it’s no wonder that more people are turning to convenient care clinics for their health care needs. Related: Want more Patients? Get Social on Facebook!Let’s look at the benefits
Drugstore clinics such as Walgreens offer a wide range of medical services, and although you won’t find a certified MD on the staff, you can receive on-the-spot patient care from a qualified nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Tell that to your HMO. Today, your average walk-in clinic may provide the following health services and perks:- Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week availability
- Choice of walk-in or appointment
- Registered family nurse practitioners on staff
- Patient care for children as young as 18 months
- Acceptance of most insurance plans
- Out-of-pocket pricing beginning at $79.00
- Prescription management
- Treatment for chronic illnesses, including GERD, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, depression, high cholesterol, and asthma
- Vaccinations
- Treatment of minor injuries
- Health screenings
- Online pharmacy and appointment services