Society Establishes Principles for Store-Based Health Clinics
The Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Board of Trustees has issued guiding principles for establishing and operating store-based health clinics, which are popping up in the nation’s pharmacies, malls, and retail stores.
Store-based clinics provide limited medical services for minor ailments. They are staffed by allied health practitioners, such as certified registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Clinics say they have longer hours, shorter wait times, and lower costs than traditional physician practices.
While such clinics may help alleviate burdens on emergency rooms and reduce wait times to see physicians, the State Society is concerned that they do not encourage close physician-patient relationships and disrupt continuity of care. In addition, the Society is concerned about safety because care is administered by a non-physician provider.
To ensure patient safety the State Society urges clinics staffed by allied health professionals to follow its principles, which are similar to those adopted by the American Medical Association (AMA) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Store-based health clinics should:
- Have a well-defined list of services consistent with Pennsylvania’s scope of practice laws and regulations.
- Use standardized protocols developed from evidence-based practice guidelines.
- Make sure health care practitioners have direct access to physicians.
- Establish protocols for ensuring continuity of care.
- Establish a referral system with physician practices or other facilities.
- Inform patients of qualifications of health care practitioners who are providing care.
- Develop appropriate sanitation and hygienic guidelines.
- Use electronic health records to communicate patient information.
- Encourage patients to establish a “medical home.”
See below for the complete board report. Adobe Acrobat is required. Download it for free.
Last Updated: 8/14/2008