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In-store clinics approved

E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Karen Weintraub January 9, 2008 10:38 AM

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By Stephen Smith, Globe Staff

State public health regulators this morning approved a controversial proposal to allow pharmacies and other retail outlets to open medical clinics in their stores.

The decision by the state Public Health Council sets the stage for CVS Corp. to open 20 to 30 MinuteClinics in Boston-area drugstores during the next year. The in-store clinics are designed to treat the aches and pains of daily life -- strep throat, poison ivy, and ear infections, for example -- not major medical emergencies.

CVS and other advocates of the clinics trumpet their ability to treat minor medical problems quickly and, in the process, deflect some patients from emergency rooms strained by ever-increasing demand. But since CVS first approached the state Department of Public Health last spring, critics have voiced concerns about the quality of care in the clinics, patient privacy, and infection control.

CVS executives said they intend to open 25 to 30 in-store clinics in Massachusetts by the end of this year, and 100 to 150 by 2010.

Eight of the public health council members voted in favor of the clinics, five other members abstained and one was absent.

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White Coat Notes covers the latest from the health care industry, hospitals, doctors offices, labs, insurers, and the corridors of government. Chelsea Conaboy previously covered health care for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Write her at cconaboy@boston.com. Follow her on Twitter: @cconaboy.

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