KDKA.com Consumer Web Extras
Apr 13, 2009 6:07 pm US/Eastern
Health Clinics Can Offer Fast, Cheap Care
(KDKA)
It's happened to all of us.
You're hit with something like a sore throat on the weekend or after work, and the doctor's office is closed.
These days, help could be as close as your nearest shopping center.
More and more health clinics are located in drugstores, supermarkets, and stores such as Wal-Mart.
Consumer Reports on Health looked at that growing business.
It turns out that not all clinics have doctors, but you will always be seen by a licensed health professional who has the training to perform tests and prescribe medications.
If you are not covered by insurance, a visit usually runs about $55 to $75.
And if you do have insurance, most clinics accept it.
Consumer Reports says that the key is to go to those types of clinics only for minor, one-time kinds of problems, such as bladder or ear infections, rashes, or pinkeye.
If you have a true emergency, such as chest pain or a severe injury, you should be sure to go to a hospital emergency room.
And the American Academy of Pediatrics opposes retail-based clinics for infants, children, and adolescents.
Consumer Reports says that it's best to ask your pediatrician about where to go for medical care for your child at night or on the weekends.
But for adults, the occasional visit to a store clinic can be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Be sure to bring a list of any medications or supplements you're taking.
And it's a good idea to ask the clinic to fax a record of your visit to your regular doctor and details on any prescriptions you might have received.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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