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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Most retail clinics are located in host establishments; some are owned by the host and others are renting space from the host. One issue that continues to arise is responding to medical emergencies that occur in the host facility. A medical emergency is defined as an injury or illness that poses an immediate threat to a person's health or life, ...

Retail Clinics can become a key player in maintaining health and wellness for many Americans during this economic crisis. As the financial system continues to plunge in a downward spiral, I often sit in my clinic wondering what the future holds for retail clinics. I often hear clients taking about the closing of businesses, the loss of employment ...

I am very thankful for the good relationship we have with our pharmacy. Our clinic is located inside a grocery store that has a pharmacy. The pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are great. They are well known to the community as most of the patients know them by name and have been using them for years. They fill the prescriptions accurately and ...

The convenient care movement is teaching the public about what nurse practitioners can do. But apparently some people just cannot be reached. A blog post I read on smartparentshealthykids.com,  is the epitome of misunderstanding about nurse practitioners working in retail health clinics. ''DrReynolds'' writes the following: Do you really ...

I am interested in seeing how Retail Clinics work out. What kind of model of care will we pioneers develop? I understand the companies we work for will shape what we do. As professionals we need to work with them, around them or be squeaky wheels to keep NPs from becoming 15 minute pseudo docs. So far, I don’t know of that happening. My concern ...