Role of Retail Medical Clinics

Transformation

[Symposium on Innovative Healthcare Delivery: Mayo Clinic]

Reprinted: October 15, 2007

http://transformationsymposium.wordpress.com

With a million visits a year and a satisfaction rate of 97% to 100%, those patients who experience MinuteClinic (www.minuteclinic.com) seem to love it. But in the world of retail clinics, does more convenient care mean better care?

The CEO Opinion

Michael Howe, the CEO of MinuteClinic, believes it does. Nicholas F. LaRusso, Chair, Mayo Clinic Department of Medicine, talked with Howe, a speaker at last year’s Transformation Symposium, about his organization’s effort to transform the delivery of health care.

Howe explained, “The broadest perspective to start with is redefining the word ‘integration’ in health care. Typically when we think about integration in health care we think about it from the standpoint of bringing all the solutions to a single point, and as long as the patient comes to that location, providers can solve most, if not all, of their issues. MinuteClinic really looked at it the other way and asked how would you integrate high-quality, simple health care solutions into a consumer’s lifestyle. Our goal is to put access to health care professionals into the pathway of the consumer.”

Growing Concept

With 200 clinics around the country and plans to double that, Howe is well on his way. Found in CVS stores, MinuteClinic’s team of board-certified practitioners are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for a variety of common family illnesses for patients 18 months and older.

Accredited

But, it is not all about convenience for Howe. He points out that MinuteClinic spent a year and a half working with The Joint Commission to become fully accredited. And, though they are the only retail provider at this point to be accredited, he thinks retail clinics should seek accreditation to really define themselves at the highest level of care.

Best-of-Breed and EMRs

By building a health care service based on best-practice protocols for focused conditions and through leveraging their electronic medical record (EMR) to measure their providers’ adherence to these guidelines, Howe believes that the retail clinic model delivers higher-quality care at a lower price that is more accessible and more convenient for patients than traditional primary care practices.

Assessment

During the last symposium, Howe shared his vision of a truly integrated health care system and the retail clinic’s role within it.

Transformation: A Symposium on Innovative Healthcare Delivery Mayo Clinic. Nicholas F. LaRusso; Chair, Mayo Clinic Department of Medicine.

Link: http://transformationsymposium.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/the-role-of-the-retail-clinic-michael-howe/

Conclusion

Now six months later, your thoughts and opinions on retail medical clinics are appreciated; please opine?

Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

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