Summary
Several large drugstores are establishing retail medical clinics within their stores much as eyeglass stores have had optomitrists on site. There is no problem with these clinics per se as long as they practice within the scope of the practitioners license and skill. There are concerns that those clinics staffed by non physicians will be practicing inferior medicine beyond the scope of the practitioner. As these clinics become more widespread, they will certainly come under greater scrutiny.
Analysis
These retail clinics could be a good thing for time strapped patients needing a quick fix.
There are concerns when there is only a nurse or other paramedical provider potentially treating more complex cases than they are trained to handle.
Even when the clinic is just leased to a physician, the physician must be careful that he is prescribing for the patient's benefit rather than that of the pharmacy.
The convenience of this setting is appealing but it is no substitute for having a primary care physician who really knows the patient and can help him manage his total health care needs.
