According to a survey of 2,064 adults selected at random, parents are turning more and more often to retail clinics for the medical attention their children need.  And they say the main reason why they do so is because it’s much more convenient than trying to get a doctor’s appointment.

According to the National Poll on Children’s Health, details of which were released today, one out of every six parents said they had taken a child to a retail clinic for treatment, physicals, or vaccinations and an additional one in four claimed to be inclined to do so in the future.  Almost 30% of the parents polled said a retail clinic is conveniently located within their communities.

The term, retail clinics, typically refers to the medical facilities located in a growing number of discount stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets.  Also known as convenience care and in-store clinics, an appointment is not necessary at a retail clinic and the waiting period is usually quite short.  Better still, they are much less expensive than other medical facilities open when most needed, such as emergency departments (EDs) and urgent care clinics.

At retail clinics, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants treat routine health conditions that often include bladder infections, ear infections, pink eye, rashes, and sore throats.  Although it’s not common, some retail clinics have a physician available, too.

The poll, a project undertaken by researchers at the University of Michigan’s CS Mott Children’s Hospital, also revealed these statistics:

• In the absence of a conveniently located clinic, 25% of the parents said they’d take their child to an ED while 50% said they’d wait to get to a doctor’s office
• Clinic visits were paid partially, if not fully, by health insurance about 78% of the time
• Two-thirds of the parents who’d taken their child to a retail clinic reported being “likely” or “very likely” to do so again
• Parents chose a retail clinic over a doctor’s office 70% of the time and 40% said they couldn’t get a doctor’s appointment scheduled as needed
• One in seven parents who’d never used a retail clinic for pediatric care reported being likely to do so in the future

The Academy of Pediatrics has issued a statement voicing concerns over the popularity of retail clinics in lieu of traditional treatment at a doctor’s office.  One concern is that gaps in care that may have ill effects on the child’s health at a later date may develop.

Source: University of Michigan Health System