Walk in, feel better fast: CVS brings in-store clinic concept t...

Inside a CVS on Main Street, down aisle 13 past the greeting cards, nurse practitioners are now treating patients at the state's second in-store health clinic.

[Just being me]

I think this will be a great thing. ER's are so over-crowded, and so many people who visit the ER go for a case of Bronchitis, like I have because I couldn't get to my doctor.

I just hope it all goes well and there are no legal issues.

[irrelevant]

It will be good to have this resource available for to keep minor problems out of the ER.

However, it is a little concerning to primary care physicians who are ready and willing to see their patients, only to see them use this option instead. The loss of continuity of care could be problematic.

I also worry that even more so than the ER, these clinics will tend to overmedicate.

[Good for the Gander]

Before we do this novel idea outside of the Route 128 belt....let's put lots and lots of these clinics in conveniently located pedestrian friendly pharmacies throughout pedestrian friendly neighborhoods in Newton, Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Lexington, Winchester, Milton, Back Bay, the South End, the Fenway, and Brookline, all inside 128, for a 5 year trial. Then, if all the Boston area hospitals, doctors, and health centers just loved the results of this novel idea and its impact on their bottom lines and the health of their patients, we can think about expanding it outside the 128 belt.