Have you ever been sick on the weekend? Maybe you had an illness that manifested itself after you doctor had closed for the day. If your illness isn't really acute enough to seek treatment from the Hospital emergency room, but you would like to get treated before the end of the weekend, what are your options?
Growing up, I went to the local Emergency Medical Clinic near my house for cuts and sprains. But, for colds and shots I went to the Doctor's office. Now you have a third option.
In Store Clinics.
What is an In Store Clinic? These are usually small offices located inside a super-market that provide a small list of services at an affordable price with a short waiting time and no appointment needed. The setup usually consists of a desk out front with 1 or more rooms for the patient to meet with the Nurse. These clinics are not usually staffed with a Physician. They are staffed by a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Nurse Practitioner (RNP). The advantage being that a Nurse Practitioner can prescribe drugs. Being located inside a store means that there is probably a pharmacy on the premises where you can fill your prescription right away. The clinics are associated with a hospital or physician who is on call in case the nurse on duty needs to consult someone else about a patient.
The services offered by In Store Clinics:
- Treatment of common ailments such as sore throats, sinus infections, earaches, and bladder infections.
- Preventive care, including health screenings, medical tests, vaccinations, and basic physical exams.
- Patient care delivered by licensed, certified providers who diagnose, treat, and when appropriate, prescribe medications.
I bring this option up because last weekend I came home from work on Friday with my ears plugged up and my sinuses full of mucus. Not wanting to wait until Monday to get treatment I sought out a RediClinic for help. The Nurse was very friendly and helpful. She asked lots of questions about my condition and examened my symptoms. She explained the treatment she was perscribing and what each perscription would do for me. It was an enjoyable experience, even if I did have to get sick in order to experience it. Now I just have to wait for my body to get better. I hope I don't have to visit an In Store Clinic again (only because I dislike being sick) but I wouldn't hesitate visiting one again if the need arose.
For more information:
- Here is an article from the New England Journal of Medicine
- A list of companies and location in the US
- Information about The Clinic At Wal-Mart
- Information about HEB's RediClinic
