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Essay / Retail Clinics - 2531
Problem America spends more money on health care than any other country in the world. Surprisingly, despite the amount spent on health care, 16.7% of the country's total population remains uninsured. According to World Health Organization reports, “America ranks 37th in health care system” (Gardner, 2010). A careful examination of the matter will reveal that American doctors receive salaries twice as high as those in Europe. Additionally, the country faces a severe shortage of doctors, making the problem worse. It is probably because of these situations that there has been an increase in the number of retail clinics in the country, their number currently being over 1,000. As reported by Kaissi and Zucker (2010), this number expected to soon reach nearly 6,000. These clinics are either independently run or under contract with hospitals and nurse practitioners rather than doctors. Many people consider these clinics a godsend because of their ease of access, lower expenses, and evidence-based care. Many others, particularly physician associations and large hospitals, are vehemently opposed, citing possible declines in safety and quality, the possibility that the underserved will be overlooked, the possibility of forgoing medical care received through medical centers (Retail Clinics: Six State Approaches to Regulatory). and Licensing, California Health Foundation, 2009, p. This includes, as Fairman, Rowe, Hassmiller, and Shalala (2011) speculate, possible exploitation by retail clinics for the purchase of unwanted medications, and conflicts over ownership of retail clinics due to differences between the laws of different states. oppositions, studies have shown that the patient...... middle of paper ...... State Health Policy. Retrieved from http://www.ehcca.com/presentations/retailclinic1/witgert_1.pdf “Retail Clinics: Six National Approaches to Regulation and Licensing.” (February 2009). California Health Foundation, 1-17. Schram, AP (2010). The medical home and the nurse practitioner: a policy analysis. Journal of Nurse Practitioners, 6(2), 132-139. Elsevier Science Inc. Turton, H. (September-October 2010). “Have nurse practitioners reached a tipping point? Interview with a panel of NP thought leaders”. Economics of nursing. 28, (5), 347. VandenBranden, SL (December 2010). "The role of the nurse practitioner in children with chronic respiratory disorders". Annals of Pediatrics, 39(12), 800-803. Weinick, RM, Burns, RM, & Mehrotra, A. (September 2010). “Many emergency room visits could be handled at urgent care centers and retail clinics.” Chevy Chase, 29(9), 1630-37.