VEGAS INC Magazine - Latest Las Vegas business news, features and commentaries about gaming, tourism, real estate and more
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VEGAS INC C OV E R STO RY Chain store clinic: 'Do you feel like you're in a Wal-Mart?' RETAIL HEALTH, From page 1 The clinics make medical care more convenient, if not more fragmented, and lure people away from more traditional primary care offices. And the clinics continue to expand in the valley for a key reason: Las Vegas has a shortage of primary care physicians. Patients might wait a few weeks to get an appointment in a traditional doctor's office. Or, they can walk into a retail clinic unannounced and be seen in an hour or two. Clinics in chain stores typically offer vaccinations and treat sore throats, earaches and other minor ailments. Urgent care centers in strip malls do the same but also treat more serious problems, such as lacerations and fractures. Urgent care clinics shouldn't be confused with emergency rooms. The centers aren't equipped to treat life-threatening conditions so staff sends those patients to the hospital. Both chain store clinics and urgent care centers take appointments but rely heavily on walk-ins. It's a booming business. CVS has five MinuteClinics in the valley and will open two more this year as part of a national expansion. Clark County's University Medical Center operates 10 Quick Care clinics and, after not opening a new location for a decade, now wants two more. Walgreens is expanding services at its Take Care Clinics around the country, including its 13 offices in Las Vegas. Southwest Medical Associates runs Wal-Mart's three local clinics, which last year had almost 23,000 patient vis14 20130422_VI01_F.indd 14 PHOTOS BY steve marcus RETAIL CARE: Hibbert Alfredo, a certified physician assistant, talks with patient Jeremy Schlueter at the Advanced Urgent Care clinic at 9975 S. Eastern Ave. in Henderson. its. The store on Lake Mead Parkway sees an average of four patients an hour. Staff members treat infections, write prescriptions, conduct physicals and help people with chronic back pain and anxiety. Near the waiting area, Wal-Mart shoppers stock up on cheap wine and frozen pizzas. Patients waiting to see a provider can take a restaurant-style pager with them and shop while they wait for it to buzz. The clinic looks like any other medical office. It has four exam rooms and a small lab. "Once you're in here, do you feel like you're in Wal-Mart?" Southwest Medical President Linda Johnson asked. ••• Retail clinics market their long hours and convenient locations. In general, Las Vegas' retail clinics are open for up to 12 hours a day on weekdays and six to eight hours a day on weekends, if not more. Chain store clinics typically are staffed by nurse practitioners and phy- | 22 APRIL 2013 | 4/18/13 2:07:54 PM