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Developing Best Medical Practices and Retail Operating Standards
By Staff Reporters
The Convenient Care Association [CCA] is comprised of companies, medical providers and healthcare systems that provide patients and consumers with accessible, affordable and quality healthcare in retail-based locations. The CCA works primarily to enhance and sustain the growth of the convenient care industry through sharing of best practices and common standards of operation. It was founded in October 2006.
About CCA
According to their website, the first Convenient Care Clinics [CCCs] opened in 2000, and the industry grew quickly since then. Today there are approximately 1,060 clinics in operation, and CCA member clinics represent more than 95% of the industry. To date, CCCs have served more than 3.5 million patients with its nurse practitioners [NPs] and physician assistants [PAs].
Link: http://www.ccaclinics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=11
Growth and Expansion
With this rapid expansion, and projected continued growth, it quickly became clear that the shared concerns and needs of both providers and patients could best be served through an association that allowed for:
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Sharing best practices, common standards of operation, experiences and ideas.
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Developing common standards of operation to ensure the highest quality of care.
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A united voice to advance the needs of CCCs and their customers
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A unified effort to promote the concept of CCCs, and to respond to questions about this evolving industry.
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Reaching out to the existing medical community and creating new partnerships.
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Building synergies with traditional medical service providers.
Assessment
The Public Health Management Corporation [PHMC], a nonprofit public health institute, provides executive management and administrative support for the Convenient Care Association. For more information, contact Tine Hansen-Turton at (215) 731-7140.
Conclusion
And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. Have you ever used a retail medical clinic and what was your experience? Will this business model save primary care medicine?
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com or Bio: www.stpub.com/pubs/authors/MARCINKO.htm
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Filed under: Career Development, Health Insurance, Managed Care, Practice Management, Quality Initiatives | Tagged: CCA, convenient care association, convenient care clinics, NPs, nurse practitioner, PAs, physician assistant, primary care, rimary care medicine |
The Leading Business Education Network for Doctors, Financial Advisors and Health Industry Consultants 
Of Mid Level “Surgical” Providers
Do surgeons think mid-level providers can replace primary care physicians, as in hte post above?
According to Kevin Pho MD, that was the implication by the American College of Surgeons’ John Preskitt; who allegedly said that, “With trauma care and surgical emergencies, there are no good substitutes or physician extenders for a well-trained general surgeon or surgical specialist.”
The ACP’s Bob Doherty took that to mean that there were good substitutes for primary care doctors. So, it’s obvious a vicious turf war will inevitably erupt as healthcare evolves.
For example, there is a school of thought that mid-level providers, like physician assistants and nurse practitioners, can be trained to do minor surgical operations and procedures. In fact, it may be a more appropriate venue for them, rather than managing complex patients as they may may do
Regardless, the incentives that sway physicians towards procedure-based specialties affect mid-levels as well. It seems plausible that they commence training to do procedures like colonoscopies, dermatology procedures, minor foot and hand surgery, injections and other operations soon.
So, should general surgeons [a dated and increasingly nebulous specialty designation, itself] even fear being replaced. Any other thoughts?
Barbara; RN, MSN, PA-C
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Hospitals Attacking Retail Medical Clinics
As a reader of the ME-P, I am also a fan of retail health clinics. I’ve used them myself, along with my teenage daughter. They are very handy during off hours and for obviously minor problems, like colds, the flu, allergies, and school PT physicals, etc.
For a while however, it was beginning to look like the models had peaked, with some closing down. But, the truth might be that the battleground is really shifting, from growth fueled by pharmacy chains and independent operators to a gradual encroachment by hospitals.
In fact, I have always wondered while hospitals ERs simply don’t have step down units for non-emergent care. This sort of treatment is still lucrative after all; as proven by the retail model.
Link: http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/trend-hospitals-mounting-attack-retail-clinic-business/2009-05-11?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss&cmp-id=OTC-RSS-FH0
Benton
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Ben,
I think you are correct. The traditional ER model is so “last-gen”; I mean … last century.
Donna
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Should primary care doctors embrace retail clinics?
According to this NYT article on May 26, 2009; yes, they should.
Whether retail medical clinics will be a viable venue for the majority of minor medical conditions is in question, but in many cases, doctors seem to be taking an antagonistic front.
What do you think?
Bill
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What is a nurse-managed health center?
Good post.
Nurse-managed health centers are run by nurse practitioners and may be headed by the CCA. According to the CCA website, in a NMHC:
Nursing staff are responsible for clinic management, and nurse practitioners provide primary health care and comprehensive health education services to patients of all ages. Many have advanced practice degrees and serve with registered nurses, social workers and therapists, collaborating physicians, administrative staff and health educators. Nurse-managed health centers are based in the communities they serve, whether it is a public housing development, school, community center, church or homeless shelter. Nurse-managed health centers serve a diverse population through all age groups and ethnicities.
A substantial share of the patient mix is uninsured or on Medicaid. As safety net providers, nurse-managed health centers provide care regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Nurse-managed health centers provide care to vulnerable populations in medically underserved rural, suburban, and urban communities throughout the country.
Sharon
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More on Retail Clinics
Contrary to what we may imagine, these clinics appear to provide the value that consumers are seeking.
For example, nearly a third of patients surveyed by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions said they are likely to seek care from a retail clinic. And, health insurance plans are starting to back the clinics for two reasons: their modest cost and their patient satisfaction results.
Find a niche market … and fill it!
Randy
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Controversy Over “Minute’ Clinics
Primary care physicians are concerned over the metastases of ‘minute-clinics’ nationwide. Of course, they argue from a patient safety standpoint, but there are powerful parochial issues worrying physicians. They are losing business
http://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2011/09/19/minute-clinics-threaten-doctors-who-wins
Baxter
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Baxter,
I agree with you – it’s is all about the money.
The docs don’t want me to get my own lab test results, but I can go to a retail clinic or drugstore chain, and get a flu shot by a NP or pharmacist – bizarre!
Paper or Injection?
Belinda
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What retail clinics are doing right
Retail clinics may offer a narrow scope of services, but there is no question their appeal is wide.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/06/25/155719915/convenience-and-efficiency-fuel-boom-in-retail-clinics?ps=sh_sthdl
The reasons the trend continues to expand so rapidly, according to a post from NPR, come down to convenience, efficiency and affordability.
Hope R. Hetico RN MHA
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