NJ Spotlight published the following article on March 7, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
PHARMACY-BASED CLINICS PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES IN PRIMARY CARE
ANDREW KITCHENMAN | MARCH 7, 2014
Increasingly, people suffering from strep throat or the flu no longer need to visit their doctor’s office before heading to the pharmacy to fill a prescription — they can go straight to a clinic at the pharmacy.
The growth of these pharmacy-based clinics is being driven by the convenience of extended hours and often lower costs. Pharmacies themselves are eager to gain additional customers since they foresee a future in which demand for primary-care services overtaking the projected supply of doctors.
The trend received a booster shot yesterday with the opening of three clinics, in East Brunswick, Old Bridge, and Plainsboro. The facilities are run by CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic retail healthcare division in collaboration with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
The clinics are staffed by advanced practice nurses and can quickly schedule visits and are open longer hours. The nurses can diagnose, treat, and write prescriptions for common illnesses; give vaccinations; treat minor wounds and abrasions; provide wellness programs in areas like quitting smoking; and monitor chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.