November 10, 2105 – Docs in a Box

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Anchor lead:  Should you get medical care in a retail clinic? Elizabeth Tracey reports

Medical clinics in retail stores, known somewhat disparagingly as docs in a box, shouldn’t be used for ongoing medical care, the American College of Physicians has announced, but rather for minor or episodic health issues.  Patricia Davidson, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, takes a somewhat different view.

Davidson: You have two working parents juggling multiple commitments, and we know in this country that means often working two jobs if you want to have a living wage, and what a great solution that you can go and get your flu vaccine while you’re doing your groceries, it’s really a different paradigm.  It takes medicine and health from the lofty towers, inaccessible and very expensive often to the communities and delivering care in acceptable ways.   :28

Davidson heralds increasing numbers of nurse practitioners stepping into the fray and providing healthcare to people where they are and hopes electronic health records will continue to evolve to support continuity.  At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.