Opinion
Retail clinics have something to teach on the subject of access to care
LETTER — Posted Aug. 6, 2007
Regarding "AMA launches pre-election push on plight of the uninsured" (Article, July 16) and "Delegates seek more oversight of retail clinics" (Article, July 16): It was amusing to see these articles on the front page of AMNews. One article takes up the issue of the lack of access to care and how we (physicians) should position ourselves, while on the same page, we trample retail clinics that are filling the gap "we" are leaving behind.
Why are retail clinics popping up all over? Because people cannot get in to see their primary care doctors or it costs too much to go or it takes too long. We can all stand around, talk and make resolutions but unless we do something (extend hours and days, hire our own nurse practitioners/physician assistants, give a real cash discount) we will be left behind.
J. Shane Purcell, MD, Anderson, S.C.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/08/06/edlt0806.htm.
