Patients are increasingly relying on nurse practitioners at retail clinics for the provision of chronic and preventative health services, according to new research released by Walgreens.
Data indicated increases in the number of patients making return visits to retail clinics, from 15 percent in 2007 to more than 50 percent in 2013. Patients headed to Walgreens clinics for chronic or preventative care increased from 4 percent in 2007 to 17 percent in 2013.
The effect was marked among all populations but was greatest among younger patients, whose visits for preventative services increased 180 percent between 2007 and 2013. Patients between the ages of 18 and 65 seeking preventative services increased 66 percent and seeking health testing increased 90 percent. For patients 65 years and older, acute care visits to increased 84 percent between 2007 and 2013.
Suzanne Hansen, Walgreens group vice president of the Healthcare Clinic division, suspected convenience, reputation and Walgreens' expansion of chronic and preventative services are driving the trend, according to a news release.
With approximately 400 clinics throughout the United States, Walgreens operates the second largest chain of retail clinics in the United States behind CVS' Caremark Clinics.
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