Check out the Retail Clinic Toolkit from Family Practice Management.
In response to the growth of retail health clinics, the AAFP has drafted a policy, "Desired Attributes of Retail Health Clinics," to safeguard care provided at retail clinics. These attributes should be the foundation on which retail health clinics are built. The AAFP recognizes that it is an individual physician's decision whether or not to work with retail clinics. The list of desired attributes can be a tool in the decision-making process.
For more information, see the links below:
Retail Health Clinics: AAFP's Response
AAFP Board Report on Retail Health Clinics -- Board Report Q to the 2006 Congress of Delegates.
(6-page PDF file; About PDFs)
(6-page PDF file; About PDFs)
AAFP Policy on Retail Health Clinics
-- Lists desired attributes of retail clinics (June 2006).
- Companies that Support AAFP's Desired Attributes for Retail Clinics -- A list of retail health companies that have signed on to AAFP's policy.
AMA Policy on Retail Clinics
-- An American Medical News article outlining the AMA's new policy on retail health clinics (July 16, 2007).
Letter to Payers Regarding Retail Clinic Copayment Incentives -- A letter from Larry Fields, MD that asks payers to encourage patients to seek care from their medical home (June 12, 2007).
(4-page PDF file; About PDFs)
(4-page PDF file; About PDFs)
- AAFP News Now: Summer Brings Surge of AAFP Advocacy Efforts -- Read the ANN article about the retail clinics copay letter and other advocacy efforts (August 28, 2007).
- Take Action: Template Letter Regarding Retail Clinic Copays -- Use this Microsoft Word template to express your opinion about payers incentivizing patients to receive care away from their medical home.
(2-page Word file; About Downloading)
Expect Retail Health Clinics to Expand Scope of Practice
-- Q&A With Health Care Consultant, Researcher Mary Kate Scott (AAFP News Now, July 23, 2008)
Editorial: Expanding Retail Health's Scope of Practice Is Not in Patients' Best Interest
-- (Members Only) An editorial from the "Voices from the AAFP" staff (AAFP News Now, July 23, 2008).
Retail Clinics Are Rolling Your Way
-- A Family Practice Management article (May 2006).
Retail Clinic Resources
-- A toolkit from Family Practice Management.
