When it comes to routine illnesses, retail clinics run by CVS, WalMart and others provide care that is as good as and more cost effective than doctors, hospitals and urgent care centers, according to a recently released study by Rand Corporation. Research findings debunked criticisms levied by the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics regarding the quality of care provided by the convenience care retailers, when it found no major differences in key clinical practices such as follow-up or prescribing habits.
What was different? The cost of providing the care was less – in some cases, dramatically so – than for the same services provided in more traditional medical sites.
The study was published in September in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Chief Marketing Officer 