Patient satisfaction with retail health clinic care

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze patient satisfaction with care provided at two retail clinics by family nurse practitioners (FNPs) and physician assistants (PAs). To analyze patient characteristics and preferences of those patients seeking care at two retail clinics.

Data sources: Anonymous, voluntary, self-report surveys completed by patient, or parents of minor patients, in one of two medical retail clinics located in grocery stores in Arizona between May 2006 and July 2007.

Conclusions: We found that clients with varied incomes and different ethnicities valued the same attributes of retail health clinic care as those found in initial studies: convenient location, no appointment necessary, short wait time, and low cost.

Implications for practice: The high degree of patient satisfaction found for retail health clinic care indicates that this type of entrepreneurial primary health care will continue to increase in numbers. Retail health clinics are a viable source of employment for FNPs.