More Than 3000 Retail Clinics Helping in Response to National COVID-19 Crisis in Communities
Retail clinics are able to provide acute and preventive health care to patients across the country.
The Convenient Care Association (CCA) has reported that the nation’s 3000 retail-based clinics are currently responding to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, and continuing to protect the communities they serve.
Retail clinics are able to provide acute and preventive health care to patients across the country, according to the CCA. Many of these clinics are conveniently located in retail settings, such as national drug store chains, supermarkets, and large retail stores.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are serving their communities as retail clinicians, providing additional services and resources that can be utilized to further strengthen national emergency response capabilities as trusted health care providers, according to the CCA.
In addition, enhanced protocols have been created by CCA members to serve as a resource for the integration of CDC Interim Guidance for the evaluation and treatment of patients with potential COVID-19 who come to member clinics for health care services.
“The retail clinic industry has a longstanding history in working with CDC and is very proud to work closely with the CDC and local, state, and federal authorities along with other partners to help facilitate COVID-19 screenings and testing with a common goal of increasing frequency and efficiency,” Tine Hansen-Turton, MGA, JD, executive administrator and director of CCA said in an interview withPharmacy Times. “These workflow additions are in place as part of the industry’s overall virus mitigation and public health strategy.”
To further mitigate the spread of the virus, clinic teams are closely following CDC guidance on personal protective equipment, strategies to minimize exposure to our healthcare personnel and to limit exposure to patients and customers within a store, according to Hansen-Turton.
“The CDC is well aware that more than 1/3 of the U.S. population live within 8 minutes of a retail clinic, and have been a supporter of encouraging local and state governments to incorporate the clinics and clinic operators in their current and future prevention efforts, from screening, upcoming rapid testing, and future available vaccinations,” Hansen-Turton added.
REFERENCE
The Nation’s 3000+ retail clinics are helping to respond to the national COVID-19 crisis in communities across the U.S. [news release]. Philadelphia, PA; CCA: March 24, 2020 [email]. Accessed March 25, 2020.
