Parents may find it easier to bring their sick child to a drugstore health clinic than to a doctor but a group of pediatricians oppose the idea saying that retail-based clinics (RBCs) do not offer the high-quality care needed by children.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has reiterated its 2006 stand that retail-based clinics or RBCs, such as those found in Walgreens and CVS, do not provide the appropriate care that children need.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics views retail-based clinics (RBCs) as an inappropriate source of primary care for pediatric patients, as they fragment medical care and are detrimental to the medical home concept of longitudinal and coordinated care," the AAP said in its policy statement. "This statement updates the original 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics statement on RBCs, which flatly opposed these sites as appropriate for pediatric care, discussing the shift in RBC focus and comparing attributes of RBCs with those of the pediatric medical home."
James J. Laughlin, medical director for pediatrics at IU Health in Bloomington, Indiana and lead author of the policy, said that RBCs can lead to "fragmented" care as services are often offered by mid-level practitioners e.g. nurses, who are not specifically trained to provide pediatric care.
"If these entities are going to take care of children, there should be certain standards adhered to in terms of communicating back to the pediatrician or having some sort of relationship with a pediatrician locally so that a child can be referred back to their pediatrician for ongoing care," Laughlin said.
Despite receiving flak from the AAP, Andrew Sussman, a physician and president of the largest chain of retail-based medical clinics in the United States, said they adhere to the principles that the AAP has outlined.
"We are very supportive of the medical home and the important role that the pediatrician plays, and we really see ourselves as complementary and supportive of that role," Sussman said. "We agree that the pediatrician should be the quarterback of the team, but we also think there's an important role for walk-in-care that's low cost and evidence-based."
Tine Hansen-Turton, executive director of the Convenience Care Association, which represents the clinic, justified the crucial role of RBCs saying that they fill the gap when a child's pediatrician is not available.
"They are a more convenient option for parents with sick children rather than the alternative, which is often waiting for an appointment while the child is sick or spending hours in a high-cost emergency room for a minor pediatric complaint," Hansen-Turton said.
