"AMA Takes on Retail Clinics"--Oh Come On!

That was the headline in today's Chicago Tribune.

The American Medical Association (AMA) is having their annual meeting in Chicago and is considering opposing the opening of in-store health care clinics in places like Wal-Mart and Walgreen drug stores.

The docs are arguing that this new phenomenon in health care, that would give consumers a low-cost and quick access to very basic medical care, poses a danger to patient safety because the AMA says they will be staffed by advanced-degree nurses and physicians' assistants.

Does the AMA really believe these things would do more than basic care and referral? I am sure they don't.

But I'll bet they are sure that this efficient, convenient, and low cost alternative to waiting two hours for an urgent care appointment in your doctors office will take some easy money out of their pockets.

The full story in today's Chicago Tribune.