Nazgul Girl
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Post by Nazgul Girl on Aug 14, 2014 11:34:53 GMT -5
Yes, Walmart has an independent optometrist on staff. Could he/she treat my glaucoma or does my personal optometrist become a specialist? Does Walmart get to treat the "easy" patients that require only the most basic of services (no x-ray machine, for example), which will drive up the cost of other services when our primary care doctors only treat those who need more?
I have real problems with the model! I question this business model too, since I would hate to go to a quick stop clinic at a big box store, pay the fee for the exam, and then be told to go to the ER or call my doctor. I could be out $ 45 to $ 150 for no good reason.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Aug 14, 2014 11:41:04 GMT -5
I live about 10 miles from the WMT and Sams Club home offices. WMT tried this here locally a few years ago. The clinics were staffed with PAs from one of the local hospitals. And yes, it was convenient to walk across the aisle to get the RX filled. This was about the same time that Walgreens and CVS were talking about doing the same.
Within a year or a little more, the clinics disappeared from WMT and haven't been back. Our newest WMT store opened yesterday, and we were there this AM for a couple of things. We stayed in the pharmacy/home depts. so I didn't notice if they have put one in this store or not. I'll look when we get groceries in a few days. My guess is no.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Aug 14, 2014 12:54:36 GMT -5
There are some cases where these clinics would be a godsend. My dad's wife had very early symptoms of shingles, and because we were able to get her into a doc in a box, she was able to get a prescription for an antiviral. She still got sick, but not near as sick as she'd have gotten if she got a full blown case. Recognizing the symptoms quickly and getting on meds was really important here, and getting a doctor on Sunday morning was not going to happen.
I was out of town and wound up with a massive case of strep throat. Yep, back to the doc in a box.
Even after one of my surgeries, I had what I thought was an infection in the incision. My primary care doctor could not fit me in, so I wound up hitting a doc in the box. They were able to do a culture and sensitivity, sent the results on to my orthopedist (this was in San Antonio, orthopod was in Houston) and he wound up calling me back and prescribing a different antibiotic.
However, I would never use them as a source for controlling my blood pressure, for something like this you really do need continuity of care.
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emma1420
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Post by emma1420 on Aug 14, 2014 13:22:56 GMT -5
I think they could work well for basic things and general preventive healthcare. My bigger concern for all these kind of places is that there is little to no way to share the patients record. Patients with co-morbidities often don't know they entire health history because it's detailed and complex, and I think it could be very easy for a doc in the box to prescribe a drug (or not), etc., and cause the patient even more health problems simply because they don't have a complete picture of that persons health.
But, for someone with just an ear infection or needing a vaccination, I think they could be terrific.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2014 13:59:45 GMT -5
I think they could work well for basic things and general preventive healthcare. My bigger concern for all these kind of places is that there is little to no way to share the patients record. Patients with co-morbidities often don't know their entire health history because it's detailed and complex, and I think it could be very easy for a doc in the box to prescribe a drug (or not), etc., and cause the patient even more health problems simply because they don't have a complete picture of that persons health. Big Brother is alive and well. I went in for a case of poison ivy and the nurse/PA/whatever asked if I was on any prescriptions. I told her I wasn't. She checked the computer and said, :what about (name of med)?" It was a prescription-strength dose of Vitamin D tablets, recommended by my doc at my last check-up. I'd forgotten about it because to me it was more of a supplement. Obamacare will be increasing the extent that records are computerized.
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emma1420
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Post by emma1420 on Aug 14, 2014 14:29:31 GMT -5
I think they could work well for basic things and general preventive healthcare. My bigger concern for all these kind of places is that there is little to no way to share the patients record. Patients with co-morbidities often don't know their entire health history because it's detailed and complex, and I think it could be very easy for a doc in the box to prescribe a drug (or not), etc., and cause the patient even more health problems simply because they don't have a complete picture of that persons health. Big Brother is alive and well. I went in for a case of poison ivy and the nurse/PA/whatever asked if I was on any prescriptions. I told her I wasn't. She checked the computer and said, :what about (name of med)?" It was a prescription-strength dose of Vitamin D tablets, recommended by my doc at my last check-up. I'd forgotten about it because to me it was more of a supplement. Obamacare will be increasing the extent that records are computerized.
That is one of the things I like about Obamacare. Although, no one I know has experienced that type of interconnectivity unless they were in the same health system (I think the exception of your prescriptions being available if you go to a doc in a box at a CVS, Walgreens, etc., if you get them filled there).
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Aug 14, 2014 16:02:23 GMT -5
I think they could work well for basic things and general preventive healthcare. My bigger concern for all these kind of places is that there is little to no way to share the patients record. Patients with co-morbidities often don't know their entire health history because it's detailed and complex, and I think it could be very easy for a doc in the box to prescribe a drug (or not), etc., and cause the patient even more health problems simply because they don't have a complete picture of that persons health. Big Brother is alive and well. I went in for a case of poison ivy and the nurse/PA/whatever asked if I was on any prescriptions. I told her I wasn't. She checked the computer and said, :what about (name of med)?" It was a prescription-strength dose of Vitamin D tablets, recommended by my doc at my last check-up. I'd forgotten about it because to me it was more of a supplement. Obamacare will be increasing the extent that records are computerized.
Isn't that a good thing? Doctors should know what medication you're on and what underlying health issues you have. That way, you can't go doctor-hopping for painkillers and the doctors will know if you have hypertension, for example, so they won't give you something that could make it worse. If they know you're on birth control pills, they'll warn you that the efficacy decreases if you need an antibiotic.
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justme
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Post by justme on Aug 14, 2014 16:54:40 GMT -5
The local hospital chain has an urgent care chain that I go to. They'll do non-urgent things too along the lines of physicals and such so they're a doc-in-a-box. I love them because you can book an apt on line - so if the only one is 2 hours out because they're busy you can wait 2 hrs at home instead of a waiting room and since it's a chain I have several to choose from but they can all access my info. I use them when my primary can't fit me in quick enough or when something should be seen sooner than the time it takes to leave a message, get a call back, maybe wait for them to call back after talking to the dr etc. The only thing that really sucks is they refuse to give out any strong pain meds. I get why, but it sucked to spend 6 hours in the ER with a migraine because Imitrex didn't work and I needed something stronger. And the Dr that just replaced the primary care Dr I LOVED was very anti giving me what I call a "break in case of emergency" pain pills. If all the ER is going to do is give me a percocet and muscle relaxer I can do that at home and save the time and money.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2014 22:00:41 GMT -5
Does Walmart get to treat the "easy" patients that require only the most basic of services (no x-ray machine, for example), which will drive up the cost of other services when our primary care doctors only treat those who need more? I have real problems with the model! If the PCPs and ERs are overcharging the simple cases to subsidize the people who need X-rays and labs, then yes, it will drive up the cost for people who need more services. Why should I pay for the cost of the MRI unit and the NICU when all I've got is poison ivy?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2014 8:43:22 GMT -5
Does Walmart get to treat the "easy" patients that require only the most basic of services (no x-ray machine, for example), which will drive up the cost of other services when our primary care doctors only treat those who need more? I have real problems with the model! If the PCPs and ERs are overcharging the simple cases to subsidize the people who need X-rays and labs, then yes, it will drive up the cost for people who need more services. Why should I pay for the cost of the MRI unit and the NICU when all I've got is poison ivy? I get my immunizations and basic screenings for stuff like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and so on in the library at school. If my results merit it, I am referred to my primary care physician with a voucher that covers the co-pay. That's treating my primary care physician as a specialist. If I go to him first for these things, I have to pay the co-pays. I just don't like the model, and I think drugstore health care will drive it further. By the way, Athena, you have a really awesome primary care physician if his office has his own MRI lab and NICU. Mine sends you to elsewhere for that. I'm talking about an x-ray machine.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 15, 2014 9:03:42 GMT -5
Obamacare will be increasing the extent that records are computerized.
Not seeing how this is a bad thing. HIPAA keeps random people from seeing your records. Wouldn't you want various health care professionals to see what you're on already before handing you scrips that could potentially cause drug interactions?
I love my records being electronic, now I don't have to sit around while the nurse rummages around looking for paper copies and then sit around some more as my doctor flips thru them. The nurse types my name into the computer and boom, there's all my information.
My current clinic still hasn't gotten my full records from Creighton because Creighton refused to go to electronic till the last minute. The nurse told me they have an entire department solely devoted to dealing with this issue because I'm not the only one.
Every other hospital has switched to electronic so if I have to go to Methodist to see someone all TMNC has to do is shoot my records over in seconds via the computer instead of having to make paper copies and rely on snail mail or make me come in to obtain copies. It makes ensuring consistency and continuity of care a lot easier.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Aug 15, 2014 9:12:03 GMT -5
I'm sure Walmart has done the analysis and are fine with it, but I wonder how they feel about taking on medical malpractice suits. It's inevitable it will happen if they start administering primary care, and some of those payouts can be quite large.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 15, 2014 9:19:59 GMT -5
Another handy thing about e-records is the computer makes a log of who is accessing your stuff and for how long. It takes seconds to catch someone accessing files unauthorized.
With paper copies anybody can walk into the room they have them crammed in, pull out a file and browse at their leisure. I've never seen much monitoring of the rooms full of paper records right behind the desk in most of the offices I've been in.
e-records are also coded so depending on the level of the person accessing your records they can only see certain things. A nurse and I were talking about that once, she can't access my full records and if she does a red flag would go up in the system. Only my actual midwife can see my entire medical history. Can't do that with paper copies.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Aug 15, 2014 10:58:02 GMT -5
I use these clinics at Walgreens and love them. They keep great records, so when I go in the next time they have all of my info from the last visit. Shoot, even my OB asks for my history every time I go in (so freaking annoying). They also follow-up with a phone call from a nurse in a couple of days to see how we are doing. I don't get that level of customer service from my normal doctor's offices!! They caught a trend in my colds/sinus problems and suggested I go to an ENT a few years ago, and even pulled up a list of providers in my insurance. I went and turned out I needed my tonsils out. Have only been sick a couple of times since then instead of every 6-8 weeks. And I like that they can see the prescriptions I fill at Walgreens so there's a list of drugs to watch out for interactions. When I am done with the visit, if there's a new med needed they send it right over so I don't have to drive across town or wait too long. And they even let me know which OTC meds I can take and will walk me out to show me (including pointing out the generic equivalents). They also ask for my primary care Dr. info and will transfer records over if I request.
I went to an actual urgent care afiliated with the local hospital about 6 weeks ago when I got a horrible sinus infection. I gave the intake nurse my info including the fact that I was 25 weeks pregnant. The doc came in, looked at the list, asked for my symptoms, and said - yep, sinus infection. Then wrote out the prescriptions. I asked if all the meds were ok to take since I was pregnant. His response - you are? Oh, let me check those again. Glad I asked! He came back and said they were fine but I still didn't trust it so I asked the pharmacist when we went to fill them. Turns out I could only take the antibiotic and not the other meds the doc had prescribed. Goes to show you need to ask questions no matter where you are.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2014 10:59:32 GMT -5
By the way, Athena, you have a really awesome primary care physician if his office has his own MRI lab and NICU. Mine sends you to elsewhere for that. I'm talking about an x-ray machine.
No, I was referring to getting care for minor issues in the hospital ER. If you're having chest pains or you may need an appendectomy, you go to the ER because they have the staff and equipment to handle major surgery and do complex testing. If you've got poison ivy or an earache, there's no need to pay the overhead for the whole hospital infrastructure.
And I agree on computerizing records. While it does feel Big Brother-ish, it can head off a lot of problems.
I'm sure Walmart has done the analysis and are fine with it, but I wonder how they feel about taking on medical malpractice suits. It's inevitable it will happen if they start administering primary care, and some of those payouts can be quite large. There's an insurance policy for that, and I'm sure they have one! It's probably written so that they're on the hook up to a certain amount (say, $250K on each claim since they're a big company) and the insurance company pays the rest up to the policy limit.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Aug 15, 2014 11:11:45 GMT -5
I went to walgreens when I was 95% sure I had strep & it was awesome. No wait, basically in & out except because it was my first time there was paperwork. I did have strep & got a prescription. It likely would have been a day or two wait for my main doc & urgent care often takes hours.
I just don't see how more availability of these type of places is a bad thing. I would definitely go back if my situation warranted it.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Aug 15, 2014 12:42:19 GMT -5
Another handy thing about e-records is the computer makes a log of who is accessing your stuff and for how long. It takes seconds to catch someone accessing files unauthorized.
With paper copies anybody can walk into the room they have them crammed in, pull out a file and browse at their leisure. I've never seen much monitoring of the rooms full of paper records right behind the desk in most of the offices I've been in.
e-records are also coded so depending on the level of the person accessing your records they can only see certain things. A nurse and I were talking about that once, she can't access my full records and if she does a red flag would go up in the system. Only my actual midwife can see my entire medical history. Can't do that with paper copies. Exactly. We had a student in our lab who was doing a record search for his mentor. He had a stack of paper records (this was before electronic records, but waaay after HIPAA was enacted) that he was extracting information from for a study. I was on his ass continually in that when he was not in the lab, those records needed to be locked in a drawer. While everyone in the lab had gone through HIPAA training, we had people come into the lab who had not (salemen, repair people, etc.) and they could just as easily rifle through records with no one knowing. He pretty much ignored me, and continued to leave the records unsecured. I had to go up the line of command, because if something had happened, our lab's ass would have been on the line for his laziness. Another thing worth noting, when Jason Priestly got into the accident on one of the race tracks in the area, he was airlifted to the hospital I work at. They were just beginning electronic records there, and a group of nurses who had nothing to do with his care were fired for calling up his medical records. As each person who accesses your record leaves an electronic fingerprint, they have a record of who has been consulted for you so there is no more of the physician dropping by the room, looking in the door and charging for a visit.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2014 13:15:28 GMT -5
The thing is that we already have Urgent Care clinics. If you are talking about housing these inside of Walmart's, I have no problem with that. You would be dealing with actual doctors and/or a physician's assistant under the supervision of an actual doctor present on the premises.
But I guess I'm picturing these Walmart clinics differently. I'm thinking something like the travelling nurses in the school library. There's no doctor if things go wrong.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Aug 15, 2014 13:17:32 GMT -5
I'm sure Walmart has done the analysis and are fine with it, but I wonder how they feel about taking on medical malpractice suits. It's inevitable it will happen if they start administering primary care, and some of those payouts can be quite large. It's subcontracted out. Walmart does not employ the medical providers. They're solely the landlord.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Aug 15, 2014 13:20:07 GMT -5
I'm sure Walmart has done the analysis and are fine with it, but I wonder how they feel about taking on medical malpractice suits. It's inevitable it will happen if they start administering primary care, and some of those payouts can be quite large. It's subcontracted out. Walmart does not employ the medical providers. They're solely the landlord. So, the only money they're getting from it is the leasing fees and the added sales from foot traffic? The article said they're trying to cash in on Obamacare.
Is that really worth the floor space in the store? I mean, I guess so, if they're doing it.
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lexxy703
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Post by lexxy703 on Aug 15, 2014 13:21:45 GMT -5
I probably would not use it but I think it is a good idea for rural areas & people who don't have health insurance. I have gone to CVS Minute clinic & the Doc in a box type urgent care centers.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Aug 15, 2014 13:21:40 GMT -5
It's subcontracted out. Walmart does not employ the medical providers. They're solely the landlord. So, the only money they're getting from it is the leasing fees and the added sales from foot traffic? I don't know, I haven't seen the lease. They may get a percent of the profits, they may just get the rent. I have no idea. But I do know that they do not own or manage the clinics.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2014 13:28:29 GMT -5
The thing is that we already have Urgent Care clinics. If you are talking about housing these inside of Walmart's, I have no problem with that. You would be dealing with actual doctors and/or a physician's assistant under the supervision of an actual doctor present on the premises. But I guess I'm picturing these Walmart clinics differently. I'm thinking something like the travelling nurses in the school library. There's no doctor if things go wrong. and there's no doctor if things go wrong when you're seeing the nurse in the school library. I'm not sure I understand your issue with them. why does there need to be an actual doctor to diagnose a strep throat?
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milee
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Post by milee on Aug 15, 2014 13:28:55 GMT -5
My guess is the extra income Walmart will get from the pharmacy and the OTC med sales will be significant. More $ per square foot than standard sales. IMHO it's a smart business move. And as a customer, I think it makes a lot of sense for convenience.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 15, 2014 16:18:09 GMT -5
I'm thinking something like the travelling nurses in the school library. There's no doctor if things go wrong.
I don't get it, it's not like you would be going to a doc in the box to get chemotherapy, be treated for a heart attack or to manage your diabetes.
Anything the PA cannot do they will tell you to go see a regular physician and at least around here the Hy-Vee clinics will not charge you in the event they can't help. If it's an actual emergency why on earth would you go anywhere but the ER?
I can't see what could possibly go so wrong that you need the immediate assistance of a doctor if you're at a Wal-mart to get amoxicillin for strep.
I don't see a gynecologist anymore for my yearly, they assign that to PAs. If something goes wrong then I see an actual gynecologist. This frees up the gynocologists to do the big things.
Same thing with doc-in-a-box. Rather than having to take time off work to spend 2 hours waiting for a doctor to swab my throat I can go to Hy-Vee during my lunch break and be out with a scrip in under 10-20 minutes.
It costs me $69 as opposed to $250 to insist I be seen by a regular doctor, which again I've found is very rare for routine things around here. You're generally shunted off to a PA for minor issues.
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Mardi Gras Audrey
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Post by Mardi Gras Audrey on Aug 16, 2014 0:04:27 GMT -5
I think this is a good idea... think of all the nasty communicable diseases going around at Walmart. At least now, they are treating them before you leave and not dumping them onto the other health care providers in town,..
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 16:28:30 GMT -5
I'm thinking something like the travelling nurses in the school library. There's no doctor if things go wrong.
I don't get it, it's not like you would be going to a doc in the box to get chemotherapy, be treated for a heart attack or to manage your diabetes.
Anything the PA cannot do they will tell you to go see a regular physician and at least around here the Hy-Vee clinics will not charge you in the event they can't help. If it's an actual emergency why on earth would you go anywhere but the ER?
I can't see what could possibly go so wrong that you need the immediate assistance of a doctor if you're at a Wal-mart to get amoxicillin for strep.
I don't see a gynecologist anymore for my yearly, they assign that to PAs. If something goes wrong then I see an actual gynecologist. This frees up the gynocologists to do the big things.
Same thing with doc-in-a-box. Rather than having to take time off work to spend 2 hours waiting for a doctor to swab my throat I can go to Hy-Vee during my lunch break and be out with a scrip in under 10-20 minutes.
It costs me $69 as opposed to $250 to insist I be seen by a regular doctor, which again I've found is very rare for routine things around here. You're generally shunted off to a PA for minor issues.
I guess I go to the Urgent Care clinic for "emergencies" other than a throat swab.
Step on a nail? Break your toe? Need stitches? Run into a door and now have two black eyes . . . concussion or not?
I got more than a tetanus shot with the nail. He did a little bit of minor surgery, creating a flap to improve drainage.
Broken toe? After the x-ray, I was put in a walking boot for a day or two.
Run into the door? Checking for possible broken nose, concussion whatever ("follow the light," etc.)
These are not services that I would expect from a nurse.
The school library thing? They give you an injection. They weigh you. They draw blood to be sent off to a lab. Those are services that I would expect from a nurse. But they aren't diagnosing anything, with or without lab results.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 16:33:38 GMT -5
I'm thinking something like the travelling nurses in the school library. There's no doctor if things go wrong.
I don't get it, it's not like you would be going to a doc in the box to get chemotherapy, be treated for a heart attack or to manage your diabetes.
Anything the PA cannot do they will tell you to go see a regular physician and at least around here the Hy-Vee clinics will not charge you in the event they can't help. If it's an actual emergency why on earth would you go anywhere but the ER?
I can't see what could possibly go so wrong that you need the immediate assistance of a doctor if you're at a Wal-mart to get amoxicillin for strep.
I don't see a gynecologist anymore for my yearly, they assign that to PAs. If something goes wrong then I see an actual gynecologist. This frees up the gynocologists to do the big things.
Same thing with doc-in-a-box. Rather than having to take time off work to spend 2 hours waiting for a doctor to swab my throat I can go to Hy-Vee during my lunch break and be out with a scrip in under 10-20 minutes.
It costs me $69 as opposed to $250 to insist I be seen by a regular doctor, which again I've found is very rare for routine things around here. You're generally shunted off to a PA for minor issues.
I guess I go to the Urgent Care clinic for "emergencies" other than a throat swab.
Step on a nail? Break your toe? Need stitches? Run into a door and now have two black eyes . . . concussion or not?
I got more than a tetanus shot with the nail. He did a little bit of minor surgery, creating a flap to improve drainage.
Broken toe? After the x-ray, I was put in a walking boot for a day or two.
Run into the door? Checking for possible broken nose, concussion whatever ("follow the light," etc.)
These are not services that I would expect from a nurse.
The school library thing? They give you an injection. They weigh you. They draw blood to be sent off to a lab. Those are services that I would expect from a nurse. But they aren't diagnosing anything, with or without lab results.
nothing you listed is outside the ability of a PA or NP. if your urgent care is only staffed by a nurse then if you came in with something needing x-rays or stitches that they didn't do, they would tell you when you signed in and you would have to elsewhere.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Aug 16, 2014 16:58:50 GMT -5
We have a new place near us called Med Express. They are staffed with physicians and open 12 hours per day 7 days a week. They also showed a list of all the insurance plans they accept.....Medicaid was not one of them. Medicare however was, as was BCBS & Tricare and quite a few more. Workmans Comp was also not listed unless it was being called something else.
If I can't get into my PCP sometime, that would be the place I'll go to. Certainly easier and less expensive, and likely quicker than going to an emergency room for a sore throat and cough. The website also says: broken bones, sprains, school physicals, labs, xrays....seems to me like a mini-emergency room.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 19:24:55 GMT -5
We have a new place near us called Med Express. They are staffed with physicians and open 12 hours per day 7 days a week. They also showed a list of all the insurance plans they accept.....Medicaid was not one of them. Medicare however was, as was BCBS & Tricare and quite a few more. Workmans Comp was also not listed unless it was being called something else.
If I can't get into my PCP sometime, that would be the place I'll go to. Certainly easier and less expensive, and likely quicker than going to an emergency room for a sore throat and cough. The website also says: broken bones, sprains, school physicals, labs, xrays....seems to me like a mini-emergency room. I've never gone to the ER for a sore throat, etc. If I couldn't make it to the regular doctor, I just suffered until I could. I don't know what I would have done about stepping on the nail.
I know poor people tend to use the ER for stuff like that, but that's because an ER can't turn you away if you need treatment just because you can't afford to pay.
Your Med Express sounds like my Urgent Care clinic. It is affiliated with a hospital but not located near it.
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