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ASAP Medical Clinics at a Glance

209 Western Ave.

South Portland, ME

553-9071

www.asapmedicalclinics.com

Here are acute illnesses that ASAP will treat:

Flu, earaches, sore throats, bronchitis, minor infections, minor sprains and strains, minor cuts and burns, sinus infections, eye infections, rashes.

ASAP will also do camp and sports checkups, and hold seasonal flu shot clinics. The clinic offers pregnancy testing but does not treat sexually transmitted diseases.

Here are medical conditions and injuries that ASAP will not treat:

Severe illnesses, chronic medical conditions, dehydration, psychiatric illnesses like depression or anxiety, broken bones, severe asthma or serious respiratory problems, serious cuts or injuries.

ASAP does not do health maintenance exams or annual physicals. It does not provide pediatric wellness checkups or vaccinations. It does not treat children under 6 months old.

ASAP’s pharmacy dispenses basic antibiotics to patients but does not carry narcotics.

By LINDA HERSEY

The South Portland walk-in clinic that opened in March near the Maine Mall joins a growing number of retail-based medical centers that are popping up across the nation.

While ASAP is owned by two Maine family practitioners, most of the clinics that opened since 2000 are part of larger chains.

MinuteClinic, RediClinic and Take Care are among major retail-based health clinic chains operating in CVS Pharmacies, Walgreens, Target Marts and Wal-Mart stores.

The clinics charge a flat fee to diagnose and treat simple illnesses. Some of the clinics promise service in 10 or 15 minutes. No appointment is necessary.

None of the chains has immediate plans to move into northern New England or Maine, according to company representatives.

But competition for consumers is so intense in major metropolitan markets that the chains rarely detail the cities and states where they plan to launch clinics.

About a dozen retail chains operate nationally, though industry experts say the growth is so rapid it is difficult to quantify all the developments.

MinuteClinic, based in Minneapolis, started the trend, when the physician-founder saw a need to provide better patient access and convenience for treating simple illnesses.

Founded in 2000, MinuteClinic operates 165 clinics in 20 states, and plans to accelerate expansions in 2007. It is a subsidiary of CVS/Caremark Corp. In the Northeast, it has clinics in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Take Care Health Systems, which operates 50 clinics, plans for 200 clinics by the end of 2007. The growth is fueled by consumer demand and interest.

A 2005 poll by Public Opinion Strategies showed that a majority of adults surveyed said they would use a retail-based health clinic.

A Harris Poll conducted for the Wall Street Journal in 2007 showed that most patients who had been treated at a retail-based clinic were very satisfied with the convenience, cost and quality of care.

But a majority of those polled also voiced concern that retail-based clinics might miss serious illnesses or medical conditions.

The American Medical Academy has taken a cautionary stance on retail-based clinics. The academy has stated that it supports multiple entry points into the medical care system, but wants to see uniform controls and standards in place at retail-based clinics to ensure quality care.

The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics also have raised concerns about medical treatment for children at retail-based clinics, stating that it is critical for young patients to have a continuum of care with a single doctor. Most retail-based health clinics will not treat children under 6 months old.

Industry representatives argue their clinics draw many uninsured and under-insured patients who would otherwise not seek care or head to costly emergency rooms for simple illnesses.

Tracey Belko, spokeswoman for Take Care Clinics, said consumers should not consider care at retail-based clinics as a replacement for seeing a primary care doctor.

She said the staff at Take Care Clinics helps patients find regular doctors if they do not have one. Many Take Care Clinics are based in Walgreens and Eckerd pharmacies.

The Convenient Care Association is a newly formed industry group that is responding to concerns voiced in the medical community.

Convenient Care Association represents companies that own and operate retail-based health clinics. Two weeks ago, the industry group issued its first set of quality standards for clinics to follow.

The association is pledging to collect patient outcomes and submit to peer and physician reviews.

Hal Rosenbluth, president of the association’s board and a founder of Take Care, said in a press statement later that retail-based health clinics are focused on building relationships with the rest of the medical care community.