Retail Clinics Plan Expansions
Two California-based firms plan to open more retail health care clinics throughout the state through 2007, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The clinics typically operate in a retail location and provide basic health care services without an appointment for a flat fee. Nurse practitioners or physician assistants often staff the clinics and can refer patients for more advanced medical care in complex situations.
A recent report by the California HealthCare Foundation finds that about 150 retail clinics operate nationwide. The report noted that a California law that requires nurses working at retail clinics to be employed by a physician-owned firm has limited the spread of the clinics in the state.
San Ramon-based WellnessExpress operates clinics staffed by physician assistants or nurse practitioners. The clinics are targeted at affluent suburban residents and accept seven different health insurance plans. WellnessExpress in the next two months expects to announce plans for clinics in Longs drugstores in Citrus Heights and Folsom.
Physicians staff Burlingame-based QuickHealth's clinics, which target Latino and uninsured consumers. QuickHealth in 2007 plans to open facilities in west Sacramento, Fresno and other parts of the Central Valley. QuickHealth expects to have 35 locations by the end of 2007, according to company CEO Dave Mandelkern (Geron, Sacramento Bee, 7/30).