Who Needs Hospitals?
While it is impossible to know whether local residents are worse off without the hospital, one 2009 study by analysts for the RAND Corporation found no adverse impact on quality, and significant cost savings, in the newer models of care.
The study looked at patients in a large Minnesota health plan who received care for sore throats, ear infections and urinary tract infections — common complaints at retail clinics like the ones in drugstores. It found that the cost of care was 30 percent to 40 percent lower in those clinics than in physician’s offices and urgent care centers, and 80 percent lower than in emergency departments, mainly because of lower reimbursement rates and less laboratory testing. It found that the rate of preventive care and overall quality of care was actually worse for patients who patronized emergency rooms for those ailments.
Source: New York Times.
Sore throats, ear infections and urinary tract infections seem to be minor medical issues. Of course your going to see lower rates compared to major meidical issues.
MinuteClinics aren’t chop shops, if the quality was subpar then they wouldn’t be doing so well..
These are a great alternative for people who travel. It can be so hard to maintain a primary care physician when you’re hardly home — I would consider transitioning all non-chronic care to these to save money and ensure that I don’t have to spend hours trying to get my doctor to call me back or call in a prescription.
Some of the worst care anywhere is provided at community hospitals. Yet, every time a dilapidated, subpar community hospital is on the verge of going under, local activists rally their state and federal politicians for the funds to save the hospital (jobs of area workers). Keeping these deathtraps open isn’t about caring for patients in the community. It’s about savings jobs in the community.
There are usually great advantages when two or more systems (in any industry) come together to provide a better quality and more accessible service. However, when it comes to the healthcare system, there is always the concern of increased costs. I have heard several times of people going to urgent care clinics and community clinics, like the ones mentioned in this article, and end up getting charged outrageous amounts of money for simple procedures/check ups, such as ear infections, the flu, the common cold, and others. In the other hand, I have heard better things from people seeking care at walk-in clinics available at gorcery stores (e.g. Walmart) where the pay, if anything, a very small fraction of what they would pay at one of these community clinics, and the service is usually a lot faster too. From what I see, it seems walk-in clinics at these stores are winning the race.
Interesting analysis…
“the rate of preventive care and overall quality of care was actually worse for patients who patronized emergency rooms for those ailments.”
Other than travelers and people stuck on Medicaid, who goes to a hospital for sore throats, ear infections, and UTIs? Strawmen?
you’d be surprised by the number of people that visit emergency rooms for relatively minor ailments. a person may not want to wait to see a doctor
“We need to continue to examine retail medical clinics as they grow in number, but the results we have seen thus far suggest they provide high-quality care in a convenient and cost-effective fashion”
Good result from the free market.
I agree with Seyyed. It seems like sometimes people who can’t get off work for a doctor appointment or just don’t want to wait a week to get into an appointment will find emergency rooms an attractive option. It’s great that drugstore clinics are seeing an opportunity to reach out to those patients and filling this niche.
I love express clinics. There was a network of clinics tied to the university hospital system in college and the service was excellent.
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Lower costs are always a good thing.
Who would go to the emergency room for a sore throat?
My family and I don’t have to worry when we get sick. Dr.Singh’s office in Bloomfield Hills shopping center is right around the corner and she is always there for us. I would not hesitate in recommending her. http://www.bloomfieldhillsfamilydoctor.com