by Tony Chen

You walk into your local drugstore to pick up a prescription. Next to the pharmacy, where there used to be a wall of decongestants, now there's a "retail clinic" with plasma TVs displaying your menu of services, a touch-screen kiosk, and a smiling nurse practitioner waiting to assist you.

Like wildflowers blooming in spring, retail clinics have been popping up all over the country. By the end of this year, there will probably be close to 800 clinics across the country. If things go well, experts believe these clinics will exist by the thousands (maybe tens of thousands) and be almost as ubiquitous as your local drug store or bank. One magazine calls them McClinics.

As a healthcare consumer & healthcare blogger, I realized that no one in the healthcare community is really giving the "unbiased" story about these clinics. So here we go (feel free to let me know if you think I'm just as biased).

I've talked to physicians, I've visited these clinics, I've talked to nurse practitioners who work there. Here's what I've been telling my friends who've asked me about 'em.

What do these retail clinics offer me?

Quick, convenient care for the most common everyday ailments and injuries. Strep throat, bronchitis, ear infections, the flu, cold sores, athlete's foot, and other simply diagnosed run-of-the-mill illnesses. Also, you can get vaccinations and basic health screenings. And the best part is that you can usually get in and out in less than 30 minutes. If you need meds, the pharmacy is just right across the aisle.

How much will it cost? Do they take insurance?

They do take insurance. But even if you don't have insurance, the cost will be typically in the $30-60 range. And obviously, this would be cheaper than a physician or ER visit.

How do I know if I should go there instead of seeing my doctor?

These retail clinics are ideal for you if you (1) have a hard time getting in to see your physician and/or (2) already know what you have & need. For example, you know your kid has an ear infection and just needs some meds. Pop in the drug store, stop by the clinic, get the meds at the pharmacy, and get home in 45 minutes. Pretty convenient, right? This is a great option especially if it'll take a week to get a physician appt.

However, there are some disadvantages. First, you should know that if you have other symptoms or you somehow don't fit their criteria for treatment, the nurse practitioner will refer you to your physician or to an ER. So, there's a ~10% chance that you go, wait in line, be seen by the NP, and then still have to go see your physician. Of course, this is for your own good (and keeps you from suing them).

Secondly, to state the obvious, you are being seen by a nurse practitioner, not a physician. Especially if you have a complex health history, isn't it better to be seen by a physician who has known you for years and knows your health history? Might your doc find something through knowing your "intangibles?" As such, these clinics are best for people who are generally healthy with isolated everyday illnesses.

What has the response been so far?

Overall, there seems to be a growing acceptance of these clinics by patients as well as healthcare providers. Initially, there was some concern about quality and about continuity of care. In addition, some physicians feel that these clinics essentially "cherry-pick" the some of the basic services that they provide. The quality concerns have been addressed through strict guidelines for the scope of treatment. The continuity of care concerns are mostly addressed by the fact that these clinics always send your information to your primary care physician.

At the end of the day, consumers have been voting with their feet. A recent WSJ poll shows that 90% of patients who utilize retail clinics were satisfied with quality, 83% were satisfied with the convenience. There have been countless news articles recently that highlight satisfied patients, mainly due to convenience and price. (Here are a few articles from Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Louisiana.

Don't get me wrong - I'm a big fan of having a great relationship with my primary care physician. But I've got to admit: as a busy new father, I weigh the risks against the time/convenience factors. Yes, for the right occasion, I would use these clinics, too.

Next time you're picking up some milk and potato chips at Walgreens, get that wart removed and finish off your hep B vaccination.