The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has concluded that in-store medical clinics have so far been shown to protect the health of patients even while they may pose some competition for doctors involved in primary care.
According to the publication, in-store clinics render basic services usually at a less expensive price than visiting a doctor's office. They also offer patients a level of scheduling flexibility not found in the traditional doctor's offices
The article pointed to research that showed consumer usage of in-store clinics is expected to increase dramatically. According to a 2005 survey, only seven percent of respondents reported having uses a service similar to that offered by in-store clinics, but 41 percent said they would be likely to do so.
With the number of in-store clinics opening on an exponential basis (look at the lofty plans of CVS with its MinuteClinic purchase), the numbers of consumers using these services will only increase.
According to the NEJM, "Affiliations with drugstores benefit both partners: patients appreciate the convenience of being able to fill prescriptions on the spot, and the clinic draws customers to the store."
Discussion Questions: Do consumers share the same concerns over quality of care as those expressed by members of the medical community? Do you think the type of store that offers an in-store clinic (drugstore, supermarket, discount store, etc.) plays a role in how consumers perceive the level of care at that location?