Docs want AMA to fight retail clinics | Chicago Tribune | 6.24.07
The American Medical Association should call for a ban of in-store clinics being opened by retail giants like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Walgreen Co., several doctor groups urged at the national medical association group’s annual meeting in Chicago today.
Most retailers such as Walgreens do not treat patients under 18 months old. But pediatric groups testified at the AMA that that is still too young. One doctor said pediatric care is too complex for nurse practitioners and think retailers should increase the age limit to three years or even older.
Ah, the irony—the nurse practitioner is just right in the pediatrician’s office… It’s good to see the AMA act as a guild again. Will the Wal-somethings wins? Can “traditional medicine” show they have more favorable cost and outcome?