Patients turn to retail clinics for chronic care, preventive services

A new study sponsored by Walgreens finds a marked increase in the number of patients who make return visits to retail clinics. The study reveals that patient visits to clinics for preventive services, screening and chronic care (combined) increased from 4 percent in 2007 to 17 percent in 2013. Return visits also increased from 15 percent in 2007 to more than 50 percent in 2012 and 2013. "This further demonstrates that retail clinics can be instrumental in providing that care, driving patient engagement, and working in coordination with physicians and other primary care providers to foster continuity of care to support more patients," said Harry Leider, M.D., Walgreens' chief medical officer. Announcement