Care in a Jiffy: When to Use a Drugstore Clinic

Care in a Jiffy: When to Use a Drugstore Clinic - One-stop pharmacy clinics can save you time and money. If you've been inside your neighborhood drugstore lately, you may have noticed something different. All over the country, pharmacies and other retailers have been adding clinics to their lineup of services. There are now more than a thousand such clinics in operation, and more are on the way.

Staffed with nurse practitioners and physician assistants, these retail clinics offer such routine services as:

• Flu shots
• Basic asthma care
• Some first aid, such as stitches, blisters and sunburn
• Minor illness care, such as earache, flu-like symptoms and urinary tract infections
• Blood pressure readings
• Cholesterol screenings
• Skin condition exams
• Smoking cessation
• Camp, sports and other physicals

They may be the perfect solution when your schedule is tight and your child has an earache or you have a sore throat. They are typically open seven days a week and do not require an appointment. They are especially convenient when minor ailments happen after-hours and the only other option is a local hospital emergency department. Emergency departments can be frightening and confusing for children, and they often have long waits and big charges.

Retail clinics offer several distinct advantages that most doctors' offices simply cannot.

• They're convenient. Most are open on evenings and weekends, when doctors' offices are often closed. And since they're walk-in clinics, you usually don't have to schedule an appointment.
• They're fast. They usually operate on a first-come, first-served basis. What's more, the average wait time is only around 20 minutes.
• They're affordable. Most charge between 20 dollars and 40 dollars less than a regular physician. And they can cost hundreds of dollars less than a trip to the ER. Many clinics provide an up-front list of costs so you have a good idea what the visit will cost beforehand. For someone with no health insurance, the savings can be substantial. Many clinics even accept credit cards and checks in case you don't have cash.

Retail clinics are not for every circumstance, though. For example, more extensive lab tests or x-rays are not usually available. Of course, for something more than a minor ailment, you should seek care from a physician. And if you have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

Many pharmacy clinics do in fact accept health insurance. But if the clinic isn't in your PPO or HMO network, you may have to pay yourself. To find out, contact your insurance company before your visit to verify coverage, including co-pays, co-insurance or deductibles. Read also: Your One Stop Medical Shop Supplies

If your regular doctor is booked and your symptoms are minor, there's no reason to let them get worse. Just be sure to update your primary care physician about your clinic care the next time you have an appointment.