Retail clinics: the land of quick strep tests, convenient flu shots, and patients who still list “Dr. CVS” as their primary care provider. While they’re great for access, they’ve definitely stirred the primary care pot.
For family and internal medicine docs, the question isn’t just “Are they competition?”—it’s “How do we remind folks what comprehensive care really looks like?” Spoiler: It’s not just five minutes, a Z-pack, and a coupon for foot powder.
Primary care is about nuance—managing multimorbidity, catching what the algorithm missed, and building actual relationships. Some practices are leaning in, collaborating with retail models to offer both continuity and convenience. Smart move.
What do you think? Are retail clinics a threat, a partner, or just another plot twist in the saga of primary care?