Retail clinics, online docs and other new health-care options aim to deliver fast, reliable treatment, no appointment necessary. And you might be able to pick up some groceries at the same time.
By Amanda Gengler, Money Magazine writer
December 30, 2008
NEW YORK (Money) — Did you wake up with pinkeye? Or maybe a painful sore throat or a nasty rash? You want relief and you want it now. Well, good luck getting it.
Nearly a third to half of consumers have trouble getting a doctor’s appointment when they want one, and more than three-quarters report long waits once they’re in their physician’s office. Fall ill at night or on a holiday or weekend and your only option may be the emergency room, where you could wait hours for treatment (sicker patients get to jump the line) and pay $75 to $300 or more for the privilege, depending on your insurance coverage.
At least that’s what your health-care choices used to be. Recently there’s been a boom in nontraditional medical facilities that aim to deliver fast, easy-to-access care, often for a lot less than the cost of a regular doctor visit.
Over the past two years, the number of retail clinics in pharmacies, supermarkets and big discount stores has jumped from 200 to 1,100. Freestanding walk-in clinics, also known as urgent-care centers, have become more prevalent as well, with an estimated 8,000 nationwide. Meanwhile…
…don’t give up your family doctor. But do use these services for what they’re good at. Read on to learn where to go when….
