Real Life in Retail Health

Happy NP Week, Convenient Care NPs!

2009-11-10T16:46:00Z

It's National NP Week and you NPs working in convenient care are especially appreciated, because without you the clinics you work in couldn't exist. Convenient care clinic operators value what you do, and not just from a business perspective. Take a look at what Take Care Health Systems has to say about you (from a Walgreens press release ): “Nurse practitioners – and other front-line health care providers – are a vital part of Walgreens vision to provide greater access to high-quality, affordable...(read more)

Convenient Care Is a "Brand"

2009-11-05T20:48:00Z

An interesting way to look at convenient care is that it's a new brand of healthcare. The blog brandSTOKE posted about this concept recently in " Retail clinics vs. your doctor: it may come down to branding ." The post very concisely explains the reasons for the fall of traditional practices that aren't stepping up to the new focus on patients' needs: They are retail-based medical clinics — and your doctor doesn’t like them. The primary advantage of retail clinics (also known as walk-in clinics and...(read more)

What Is Retail Clinics 2.0?

2009-10-29T18:49:00Z

This week I attended a forum in Philadelphia held by the Convenient Care Association (CCA). It was designed to address where convenient care is positioned now and where it's headed. In terms of presenters and panel participants, the cast was star-studded: Sandy Ryan, chief nurse practitioner officer for Take Care Health Systems, Web Golinkin, CEO of RediClinic, Tine Hansen-Turton, executive director of the CCA and Chip Phillips, former CEO of MinuteClinic, to name a few. There were about 160 attendees,...(read more)

Free Convenient Care Forum in Philly

2009-10-15T15:50:00Z

Hey, convenient care NPs! Are you close to the Philadelphia area? Are you interested in getting engaged in the conversation about where retail healthcare is going? Is it expanding? Is it a dying fad? There's a free way to learn more: On October 26th, the Convenient Care Association is cohosting a forum to discuss issues and trends in the industry. The "Convenient Care Clinics and Retail Healthcare: A Critical Innovation for Successful Healthcare Reform" forum will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at...(read more)

Ambiguity in Retail Healthcare

2009-10-13T14:45:00Z

During this last month we have been overrun with patients seeking flu shots and seeing patients with colds, strep throat and flu. I have seen some folks who are very ill and without doubt have influenza. But mainly I have seen the worried sick. People who have upper respiratory symptoms and know they are victims of "swine flu." One little boy who indeed did have influenza thought he was going to die because he had the "swine flu." Luckily his mom realized his fear and hopefully we were able to reassure...(read more)

Flu shots! Flu Shots! FLU SHOTS!!!!

2009-10-05T14:23:00Z

Wow, what a rush! We started administering flu shots in our retail clinics Septemter 1 st , and have been extremely busy this season thus far, and it is not even really prime flu shot season yet. I believe there are two reasons to explain the large numbers of patients looking for an early flu shot. The first is everyone has flu and influenza on their mind as H1N1 has started to consume my community: in the elementary, middle and high school students and in the universities. People are very concerned...(read more)

Swine Flu Panic in Retail Healthcare

2009-09-22T15:40:00Z

Since the beginning of the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, the public has relied on retail clinic practitioners to provide education, guidance, testing, assurance and treatment. The media is playing a vital role in keeping the public updated; however, I am not sure if this is helpful or harmful. The public is hearing with only half an ear, only listening when they hear about death by swine flu. Despite the CDC reports that states, "The majority of people who contract the virus experience the milder disease...(read more)

Notes From a Veteran in Retail Health

2009-09-21T19:13:00Z

This is my third year working in a retail clinic. And considering that the concept is new, I feel like a veteran. And as a veteran retail clinician, I have learned a few things about myself and about healthcare in the United States and about working for a for-profit corporation. I will begin with myself since I am a person in a society that generally considers "me" before anything else. And believe me I am a member of that society. There are many good things for me as a NP in a retail setting. Generally,...(read more)

Working Part Time in Retail Healthcare

2009-09-02T14:58:00Z

I worked in primary care for a number of years working 4 days a week 8–5, which is the norm for most medical providers in clinic settings. I do remember the days of staff nursing where I worked three 12-hour shifts during the week and fewer shifts during the week if I worked a weekend. There are pros and cons to both options. I think retail care has merged the better of the two, and then some. As a retail NP I work 12 hour shifts during the week and 8 hours if I work a weekend. I can work two to...(read more)

Tools for Clinic Success

2009-08-27T18:15:00Z

While working in a retail clinic, I have identified the following tools as essential for building a successful, thriving clinic: word of mouth, positive perception and community awareness. It is my experience that although company marketing is necessary, word of mouth is a valuable tool for growing a retail clinic. I have witnessed a large number of clients stating that they were referred by others, such as friends, schoolmates, pharmacy or school officials. Word of mouth is referenced to the passing...(read more)

Patients Under 18 in Retail Healthcare

2009-08-17T14:41:00Z

We are doing lots of sport physicals as school is about to start in many of the surrounding counties. I think that sometimes when something like a sport exam is offered at such a low cost and at very convenient times people do not take them as seriously as they should. Maybe the low cost and convenience devalues the importance of what is taking place. Every time I clear a child for sports I say a prayer that this child will stay safe while they are exerting themselves out in the Georgia heat. To...(read more)

Healthcare Reform: A Nurse Practitioner's Perspective

2009-08-10T14:53:00Z

Most of my spare time is spent listening to and watching the healthcare reform debate. I know that I favor a single payer system but I also know many people do not. My intent is not to get in a debate about this, as I don't think it will happen. What I do think has a chance is a public insurance option. That is if everyone is not scared to death about things that are not going to happen. I don't know about others but when I hear how bad healthcare will become under a public plan, I get insulted....(read more)

Convenient Care Conference

2009-08-05T14:07:00Z

I had the opportunity to attend the Retail Clinician Education Conference in Orlando, Fla. this week August 3rd-5th. I did not attend the conference last year and was very excited to attend this year. The presentations at the conference covered a broad range of topics in clinical education including dermatology, asthma, OTC cough and cold treatments, and vaccinations. An introduction to homeopathy and dietary supplements was a very nice addition to what we traditionally have in clinical education....(read more)

Rudeness in Retail Healthcare

2009-07-27T14:26:00Z

The word "rude" in the dictionary means lack refinement, cultural, or elegance. Another definition that I found on the Internet is "an impolite action, contrary to the usual rules observed in society, committed by one person against another." I think this is the best definition to describe the people I am talking about in this post. The behavior of these poeple can be considered against the present customer in the office or against the nurse practitioner. For a lack of a better word, I would like...(read more)

What Brings NPs Together

2009-07-23T13:12:00Z

[Note from the editors: Following is a post by a former Real Life in Retail Health blogger about this summer's American Academy of Nurse Practitioners conference. She has left the retail health industry but still wished to share her thoughts on this conference with our blog readers.] I attended all 5 days of the AANP national conference in Nashville; I really had an interesting time. I met many NPs from all over the United States. I cannot comprehend how very many different roles that NPs are filling....(read more)