Retail Clinics Provide Similar Quality Care at Lower Cost Than Physician Offices & Urgent Care Centers

OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Strategic Health Care News Retail clinics provide similar quality care at a lower cost than physician offices, urgent care centers, or emergency departments for three common conditions—middle ear infections, sore throat, and urinary tract infections. The cost of care for treatment at retail clinics was about $110 in 2006. The cost of care in 2006 at physician offices, urgent care centers, or emergency department was significantly higher—$166, $156, and $570 respectively. Aggregate quality of care scores among retail clinics, physician offices, and urgent care centers were 63.6%, 61.0%, and 62.6 . . .