Check In, Check Up
Retail clinics may be convenient and affordable—but they don’t replace primary care doctors.
By Terry Soto
August/September 2007
Before you get to the grocery checkout line to pay for your bread and milk, you may want to stop and have that cough checked out. Affordable walk-in health clinics are showing up in supermarkets and drugstores nationwide.
These clinics are common in Latin America, so many Latinos feel at ease using them. And they’re especially useful for those who are uninsured or underinsured.
| Here’s what most clinics offer: |
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Medical staff qualified to give routine care, vaccines, and other services |
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Daytime, evening, and weekend hours |
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Fast service, with no appointments required |
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Treatment that usually costs less than a doctor visit—and may be reimbursable by health insurance |
Walk-in clinics can be convenient, but beware. Make sure serious or pre-existing conditions are addressed by a doctor. It’s key that the staff speaks your language to avoid errors. And afterwards, convey the details of your visit to your personal physician.
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