As autumn arrives so do sniffles and sore throats.

Jessica Forres reports that some patients are ditching their local doctor for on demand medical care at retail health clinics that are popping up around town.

LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

[NAT: OPEN UP, SAY AHHHHHH]

Elizabeth…who prefers not to give her last name…gags as her throatgets cultured for strep bacteria.

I'VE HAD A FLU AND I NEED TO BE ON AN AIRPLANE LATER THIS WEEK AND I'M WORRIED MY EARS ARE REALLY CONGESTED.

She is seeking medical treatment at her local CVS in Bethesda, where a retail health center called Minute Clinic is located and run by a nurse practioner and off-site physcian.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE I NEED TO BOTHER THE SCHEDULE OF MY REGULAR DOCTOR AND ALL THAT'S INVOLVED IN GETTING AN APPOINTMENT.

There are more than 5-hundred Minute Clinic centers nationwide and Alexis Blount manages nearly thirty of them in the region. She says they treat minor infections such as strep and also offer vaccines.

IN MARYLAND WE GAVE OVER 3-THOUSAND FLU VACCINES LAST YEAR, INCLUDING THE BALTIMORE AREA. AND WE GIVE THINGS LIKE PNEUMONIA, MENINGITUS VACCINES.

But Bruce Smoller, the President of the Maryland State Medical Society, says these establishments don't provide continuity of care.

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. SOMEBODY I KNOW ACTUALLY, A RELATIVE, WHO RECEIVED SOME IMMUNIZATIONS AT A MINTUE CLINIC RAN INTO SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND HER PHYSCIAN HAD TO PICK UP THE PIECES.

Elizabeth doesn't seem to mind.

IT'S A VERY NICE EXPERIENCE, IT'S VERY LIGHT AND BRIGHT AND IF THEREIS A WAIT AND HONESTLY THERE OFTEN IS, YOU'VE GOT THE STORE AND YOUCAN DO YOUR ERRANDS RIGHT HERE.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

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Retail health clinics providing on demand medical care are popping upin drugstores around town.

But as Jessica Forres reports one medical group in Maryland says somephyscians are concerned about the quality of care they provide topatients....

LISTEN TO THE SECOND STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

Elizabeth…who withholds her last name…walks to the back of CVS where there is a retail health center called Minute Clinic. She has the flu.
[NAT: SAY AHHHH]

I DON'T FEEL LIKE I NEED TO BOTHER THE SCHEDULE OF MY REGULAR DOCTOR AND ALL THAT'S INVOLVED IN GETTING AN APPOINTMENT SO IT'S JUST VERY QUICK AND EASY TO COME HERE.

Alexis Blount is the beltway regional manager. She says they treat minor infections and offer numerous vaccines.

WE KNOW THAT MANY DOCTORS OFFICES DON'T HAVE EXTENDED HOURS OR WEEKEND HOURS. AND WHEN YOU'RE SICK YOU CAN'T ALWAYS WAIT A WEEK TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.

Bruce Smoller is the President of the Maryland State Medical Society. He says physicians are concerned about the quality of care.

I THINK THE PHYSCIANS ARE MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH THE TWO THINGS IBROUGHT UP THAT THEY ADHERE TO STANDARDS FOR THEIR PATIENTS AND THAT THEY DON'T INUNDATE THE PHYSCIAN WITH PROBLEMS AND SIDE EFFECTS THAT THE PHYSCIAN HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF BEFORE THE PATIENT WENT TO THE CLINIC.

Minute Clinic's Blount says they have a 98 percent customer satisfaction rate.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News