A Visit with a MinuteClinic Nurse Practitioner; My Observations and Conclusions

I recently visited a local CVS MinuteClinic for a vaccination. I have previously blogged about MinuteClnics because I believe that they, along with the Walgreens and Walmart clinics, will attract a substantial share of primary care visits in the near future. Here are some of my previous notes about MinuteClinics (see:Details about CVS' MinuteClinic POCT Strategy;CVS Offers Telemedicine Visits for MinuteClinic Patients;The"Proximity Advantage" Enjoyed by Retail, Walk-In Clinics Over Health Systems;Retail Drug Stores Emerging as Healthcare Hubs for First-Tier Primary Care).My first impression during the visit was that the nurse practitioner's office was relatively small, particularly when compared to the large CVS store in which it was embedded. This is not a criticism because the office was probably big enough for its purpose which is to see one patent at a time with a small waiting area outside the office door. What was different about this MinuteClinic practice, and perhaps differentiating it from that of some physicians, is that it is supported by relatively advanced IT that serves as a replacement for a receptionist and scheduler.For example, one can make a MinuteClinic appointment on the web, afterwards receiving a code number which is entered into the computer outside of the office. Many of the patients seeking care in the clinic are walk-in's. Using the on-line appointment scheduler allows you to hold a place in line after i...
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