As the largest drugstore chain in the United States, Walgreen announced Thursday that they are now offering chronic-care services in more than 330 of its 370 Take Care Clinics.
These clinics, run by nurse practitioners and physicians assistants, have, up until now, treated instances of colds, ankle sprains and the like. Going forward, however, they will begin running lab tests and screenings as well as recommending and ordering preventive health services for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and asthma.
The decision, according to a press release issued by the company, was made in the face of a lack of ready care for many Americans - a result of, it states, "a physician shortage" as well as an aging population.
What's more, the release warns that the crisis will only get worse as 30 million people gain access to health insurance starting in 2014 due to the Affordable Care Act.
By providing the added care, Dr. Jeffrey Kang, the senior vice president of health and wellness services and solutions, said individuals everywhere will be able to access better care..
"Through greater access to services and broader focus on disease prevention and chronic condition management, our clinics can connect and work with physicians and other providers to better help support the increasing demands on our health care system today," he said.
The release further cites a study issued by Rand Corporation that shows walk-in retail clinics have increased in use 10-fold over the past two years. One reason, it states, is due to their lower costs in comparison to a doctor's office or urgent care centers.
Not everyone believes the move is necessarily a good idea, however.
Dr. Jeffrey J. Cain is the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, one of the nation's largest medical organizations. As he told Yanoo! News, the clinics are a lot like a fast-food restaurant - unhealthy in large doses. The reason, Cain said, is that the best treatment can only be delivered through a primary care physician familiar with a person and able not just to treat illnesses, but advise toward a healthy lifestyle.
Walgreen, however, said they will continue to advise individuals to maintain a primary doctor and that they will "continue to work collaboratively with providers to support and complement a patient's physician care plan."