Illinois docs feel threatened by retail clinics

The Financial Times article "Wal-Mart health clinics divide US medics" describes how the state of Illinois is considering to enhance the regulation of retail clinics. This is due to pressure from its medical association, which no doubt feels that primary care doctors' livelihood is threatened.

[But a]dvocates say the clinics will improve access to healthcare and reduce costs; that they will reduce more expensive visits to hospital emergency rooms; and that they will catch some illnesses before they become serious and costly. As a result, physicians will have more time for complex cases.

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Dr Rodney Osborn, president of the Illinois State Medical Society, said: “This is a brand new animal. That’s why we believe legislation is important to guarantee patient safety ... They’re not putting these things in to provide healthcare; these people are businessmen.”

If retail clinics make better sense to patients and their long-term health and will even save a part of the healthcare system (the ER) money, doesn't the complaints of these doctors appear more self-interested and less patient-centered? And aren't doctor practices businesses too?

Dr Arnold Milstein, chief physician at Mercer health consultancy, says doctors are playing on patient fears to thwart change.

“[Doctors] wrap themselves in the holy garb of quality ... completely ignoring the facts that all the research shows current care stinks,” Dr Milstein says. “The weaknesses that are endemic in the current healthcare system are being trotted out to block innovation and change.”