FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 19, 2008
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laurie Peacock, 312-580-6497
(cell) 312-608-3620
DOCTORS SEEK RETAIL HEALTH CLINIC OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE PATIENT SAFETY, ADEQUATE FOLLOW-UP CARE
Springfield, Illinois— In the interest of protecting the health and safety of patients seeking care at retail health clinics, State Representative Mike McAuliffe (R-Chicago) today introduced House Bill 5372, the “Retail Health Care Facility Permit Act.” Backed by the 12,000-member Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS), the measure calls for regulating in-store clinics to ensure patients receive proper follow-up care. Over the last year or more, such retail clinics have cropped up across Illinois and the nation – a new trend driven by such pharmacy chains as Walgreens, CVS and Wal-Mart. They are typically staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants within each store.
“We welcome the competition and choice these enterprises can offer for some patients, especially those with occasional minor ailments,” stated ISMS President Rodney C. Osborn. “Our intent is not to ban retail health clinics,” he continued. “Yet we’re concerned that since these clinics deliver only episodic or single-instance care, we must work to ensure patients receive needed follow-up care – an important medical consideration routinely handled by primary care doctors but not retail clinics. For instance, what happens when a patient at a retail health clinic receives an antibiotic prescription that interferes with his or her previously-prescribed medications? It may actually be dangerous to assume the clinic will communicate with the patient’s primary care physician, who has more extensive knowledge of the patient’s medical history, to avoid a medication error.”
Retail health clinics contrast sharply with what health care advocates stress is a crucial factor in a person’s health care: having a medical home. Medical homes are important because a patient’s care is overseen and coordinated by a licensed physician who maintains an on-going relationship with the patient, other health care professionals and, in many cases, the patient’s family. If enacted, 5372 would establish requirements for retail health clinics to maintain patient records, follow-up with a patient’s physician or establish a system with a corresponding hospital for emergencies or for referrals, and employ a physician to ensure enough oversight and quality of care. The legislation also sets parameters that a single physician or a medical director should not oversee more than two clinics.
“Doctors understand a patient’s need for convenience, but your best choice is to establish a relationship with a physician who meets your needs and your schedule,” Dr. Osborn said.
Summary of legislation:
-
The facility must have a referral system to physician practices or other health care entities appropriate to the patient's symptoms outside the limited scope of services provided by the facility.
-
The facility shall provide notification of any patient visits and outcomes to the patient's designated physician.
-
The facility shall establish appropriate sanitation and hygienic protocols. The facility shall have a designated receptionist and waiting area.
-
At the conclusion of each visit, patients shall be given a written notice stressing the importance of having a personal physician who can provide the full range of health care services. Patients shall be notified in writing of their opportunity to purchase medications from any provider whenever they receive a prescription at a clinic.
-
Illinois health care services provided must be in accordance with a limited scope of services as determined by the facilities' medical director and approved by the Department of Public Health.
-
No health care services may be provided unless a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, an advanced practice nurse (APN), or a physician assistant (PA) is on the premises at the time the services are provided.
-
The facility must have a medical director who is a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches with active medical staff privileges to admit patients to a local licensed hospital. Collaboration of APNs or supervision of PAs shall not be construed to necessarily require the presence of a collaborating or supervising physician as long as methods of communication are available for consultation with the physician in person or by telecommunications in accordance with written protocols.
-
The facility shall maintain medical records for all patients for the period required of a licensed hospital under the Hospital Licensing Act.
-
All personnel shall wear on his or her person a clearly visible identification indicating his or her professional licensure status while acting in the course of his or her duties.
-
The facility shall operate under written protocols approved by the medical director and the APNs or the PAs providing services at the facility.
-
Payers shall not be allowed to waive or lower co-payments or offer financial incentives for visits to retail-based clinics in lieu of visits to primary care physicians’ offices.
-
Individual stores wherein these clinics exist will be prohibited from selling tobacco and alcohol products.
###
www.isms.org
ISMS is a professional membership association representing over 12,000 physicians practicing in all medical specialties statewide. Dr. Osborn is an anesthesiologist who practices medicine in Peoria, IL.