The explosion in retail health clinics is changing the healthcare system as we know it. It is having an effect on all areas of the industry – and getting the attention of both health plans and providers.
Retail clinics offering consumers fast, inexpensive, and quality care are opening in droves throughout the country. And many major retailers and pharmacies are rushing to get in on the game. It is estimated that there will be 700 clinics by the end of this year.
"Clinics have proliferated in retail settings throughout the country due to a widespread lack of access to high-quality, affordable healthcare in America,” said Tine Hansen-Turton, executive director of the Convenient Care Association, the trade association for the clinics.
“Convenient Care clinics collectively boast a 98 percent patient satisfaction rate, which indicates that Americans have embraced this innovative and visionary model of healthcare,” she added.
Controversy surrounds the growth of these clinics. And, many in the industry remain skeptical. These health care clinics are primarily staffed by advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners (NP) and clinical nurse specialists (CNS) which is leading some to question their viability and whether they can deliver what they promise. Some health plans are waiving co-payments for members who use retail health clinics, and the American Medical Association (AMA) now wants authorities to investigate whether in-store clinics in retail locations with pharmacies represent a conflict of interest that put profits ahead of patient health.
Looking for an easy way to get up to speed on the opportunities available in this new outlet? Join The Managed Care Information Center and three experts on this industry trend for “Retail Health Clinics: Opportunity or Threat for Today's Healthcare System,” an executive level audio conference took place in August 2007.
Agenda
- What are Retail Health Clinics?
- Data from the Industry
- The Future of Accessible Healthcare
- Retail Health Clinics --- Opportunity or Threat for Today’s Healthcare System?
- Are Clinics the Answer to Quality Affordable Healthcare
- How are traditional providers responding?
- How Health Plans Are Turning to Clinics to Reduce Costs
- Case Study: AtlantiCare - How Health Systems are Getting Involved
- How Partnerships are Integral to Making this Model Work
- The Efforts Underway to Address Concerns about the Quality of Care Provided at Retail Health Clinics
- Question and Answer Session
Health plans, providers, PHO and IPA leadership, physician practice management, company executives, TPAs, PBMs, pharmaceutical companies, disease management companies, medical device manufacturers, healthcare technology companies
With titles like: hospital and managed care executives, CEOs, COOs, vice president of operations, vice president of finance, business development, strategic and implementation consultants, medical directors, sales executives, marketers, network services, public relations executives, compliance officers, operations executives, executive directors, team leaders, planners, product managers, knowledge managers, pharmacists, network development, strategic planners, utilization management, network managers, analysts, account services, administration executives and ancillary products managers
©2007 Health Resources Publishing