A Take Care Health Clinic has opened at a Walgreens store in Rockford, Ill., and three more retail health clinics are expected to open in Rockford this year.
The Rockford-based clinic is a walk-in healthcare center staffed by board-certified family nurse practitioners. It is open seven days a week, with extended evening and weekend hours.
The clinic will provide treatment for patients 18 months and older for common illnesses such as strep throat, ear and sinus infections, pink eye and poison ivy, as well as offering physicals and vaccinations for flu, hepatitis B, meningitis and tetanus.
The clinic has two patient examination rooms, exam tables, sinks, touch-screen patient registration kiosks and electronic medical record technology for visit documentation and continuity of care.
Take Care Health Systems has partnered with national insurance plans including Aetna, ChoiceCare, CIGNA, Coventry, Great West Healthcare, Humana, Multiplan/PCHS and UnitedHealthcare to provide covered services to patients, in addition to accepting Medicare and Medicaid.
Uninsured patients or cash payers can expect prices averaging between $59-$74 at the Rockford-based Take Care clinic.
While the number of retail health clinics nationwide is nearing 1,000, some physician groups are skeptical of the services provided at the store-based health centers. The Illinois Medical Society proposed a law in May 2007 to regulate the growth of the clinics, arguing that they could put patients at risk.
"Our experienced nurse practitioners understand their local communitiesand are delighted to provide an unparalleled patient experience inanother Illinois market." said Wendy Edwards, lead Take Care NursePractitioner for Rockford.
Take Care Health Systems currently manages 171 total clinics in 18 cities throughout 14 states.
Will the growth of retail health clinics threaten physician practices' business? Send a response to Associate Editor Molly Merrill at molly.merrill@medtechpublishing.com.