The Growing Reach of Retail Healthcare
New channels for healthcare are cropping up, challenging
traditional notions of the ideal doctor-patient relationship.
The medical community scrambled to address the growth of
quick-care clinics, which have emerged at superstores, groceries
and drugstores to serve families looking for convenient and
affordable healthcare. These outlets, which go by names like Redi
Clinic and Minute Clinic, offer treatment for a range of minor
illnesses, from sore throats to rashes, with the convenience of a
pharmacy just a few steps away. Family doctors and pediatricians
have objected to these clinics, questioning their ability to
provide quality care without medical history and follow-up. The
traditional providers are concerned about the lack of a medical
home for kids who go to quick-care clinics rather than see one
doctor consistently over time.
What to watch:
Whether this new brand of healthcare endures remains to be
seen. But the concept of a "medical home" will continue
to evolve as healthcare delivery becomes more fragmented. In the
meantime, parents, confronted with many new options for accessing
healthcare, will have to be vigilant about keeping track of healthcare encounters that occur outside the doctor's office.
For Kids:
Going to the Doctor
Going to the Hospital
For Teens:
Talking to Your Doctor
Dealing With an Emergency
For Parents:
Finding Your Way in the Healthcare System
Your Child's Checkups
Knowing Your Child's Medical History
What You Need to Know in an Emergency
Finding a Doctor for Your Child
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Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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