I have written about both issues before: freestanding ERs and retail clinics. Two recent studies continue to show how useless they both are in helping create a better more efficient healthcare system. The freestanding ER study  examined the number of these facilities and population characteristics where they locate. They identified 360 freestanding...
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A study in the latest Health Affairs took a snapshot of utilization and costs associated with retail clinics. These are the small clinics located in Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreen’s and the like. They were touted by proponents as low-cost options for primary care. They are usually staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants....
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A family physician colleague, Aaron Segal M. D., told me a story that reminded me of some of the poor quality care that we hear about a retail clinics. He overheard the following conversation: Person A, “well, good luck at Minute Clinic…” Person B, “Yeah, I think it will work out....
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