I’ve never actually been to a retail medical clinic but I’ve driven past many. They are becoming quite common these days. The clinics are becoming popular due to their prices and convenience and can provide care comparable to that offered in physicians' offices, urgent care centers, or emergency departments, according to two studies in the September issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

However, since the first clinic of this kind opened its doors, physician organizations have voiced concerns regarding the quality of care that these clinics deliver. These organizations’ leaders are worried that patients visiting one of these clinics could be overlooking unforeseen complications and preventive care.

To evaluate these concerns, researchers analyzed claims data from a health plan that has been providing coverage for its members at retail clinics for more than five years. Researchers compared the cost, quality of care, and the delivery of preventive services for more than 2,000 patients who received care for the following three conditions commonly treated in retail clinics:
1. Fluid in the middle ear (with or without ear infection)
2. Sore throat
3. Urinary tract infection

These episodes were matched with other episodes in which these illnesses were treated first in physician offices, urgent care centers, or emergency departments. The researchers found that
•    the quality of care in retail clinics was similar to that provided in physician offices and urgent care centers and slightly superior
      to that of emergency departments;
•    rates of preventive care received at the initial visit through the subsequent three months were similar for retail clinics and
      physician offices; and
•    for patients who visit a retail clinic, preventive care was typically delivered in a physician's office, which suggests that the
      clinics were not disrupting opportunities for preventive services.

I would be interested to hear what you think of these studies. Have you visited a retail clinic? How would you compare the quality of care you received to that you’ve received in a physician’s office or emergency department?