A couple of points here. I operate a pharmacy next door to a nurse practioner’s clinic. We have a great working relationship, it works well and patients are well taken care of. Many choose to use us because of convenience, but others take the prescriptions to the pharmacy they always use which is a good idea. This CVS thing is a little different because patients will be expected to have the prescriptions filled there.
1. This arrangement gives patients easier access. They are more likely to be treated before something gets out of hand.
2. Yes it probably will take nurse practioners away from the hospitals temporarily, but supply & demand will cover that. Plus what I have seen is they can work both places. NP’s cover shifts on their days off.
3. This is my BIG concern. I expect the CVS will heavily influence the drugs prescribed. That isn’t always negative because pharmacist can give advise for cost saving, etc. The problem I expect from this arrangement is that CVS will enter contracts with XXX drug companies to have their clinics prescribe certain drugs exclusively in return for huge rebates. The patient may be treated based on rebates and not on the best therapy for them.
I’m a big fan of walk-in clinics in general. Not as big a fan of them in drug stores. It’s bad enough walking through the CVS or Walgreens during cold and flu season. It will be worse when people are coming there specifically BECAUSE they have a cold or flu. Germs will be spreading even more.