In-store clinics open in area

Finding out if a child has strep throat should only take a little bit longer than the time it takes to swab the throat and wait five minutes for the results.

“Sometimes you go to an urgent care clinic and can wait three to four hours for the five-minute test. Here you can have the test done and be on your way,” said nurse practitioner Anne Pohnert.

The latest national health care trend - in-store health care clinics - has moved into the Prince William area with the addition of MinuteClinics to some CVS pharmacies.

While they provide a limited number of medical services, visits often take only 10 to 15 minutes with little to no wait time.

“We want to fill a niche for something that is missing in health care,” Pohnert said. “We want to provide qualified, convenient care from highly qualified individuals.”

Pohnert is the manager of operations for the 15 MinuteClinics in Northern Virginia.

There are four MinuteClinics in Prince William County. They are in the CVS pharmacies at the following locations: Hoadly Road near Dale Boulevard; Tacketts Mill in Lake Ridge, McGraws Corner Drive in Gainesville; and on U.S. 1, north of Dumfries.

“In general, we treat common family illnesses,” she said. “Patients are a little surprised how quickly a visit goes.”

From ear infections and sinus infections to flu, mononucleosis, cold sores or pink eye, MinuteClinics nurse practitioners can diagnose, prescribe medication and treat these and many other health concerns.

Except for the Tacketts Mill location, all MinuteClinics in Prince William are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Pohnert said that the Tacketts Mill location, which is currently only open on weekends, will offer weekday hours as soon as she can hire more nurses.

For most patients, MinuteClinic will accept as payment the office visit co-pay indicated on their health insurance card. Patients paying cash or credit will find treatment prices posted outside each health care center. Most treatments at MinuteClinic cost between $49 and $59.

MinuteClinics, which were created about eight years ago and started in Minneapolis, is one of the first and largest chains of retail clinics with 500 locations across the country.

Other retailers such as Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Target are among those that have followed MinuteClinics’ lead developing their own limited in-store medical clinics.

The trend is still spreading. While Wal-Mart has nine retail clinics in Virginia, none are in the northern region. Neither Walgreens nor Target has moved clinics into the state - yet.

Pohnert said that the clinics are not equipped to handle the full range of medical services. For example, they do not have X-ray machines, nor can they test blood.

“We are not trying to be a doctor’s office,” Pohnert said. When a patient has symptoms that indicate a more serious or complex health issue than those treated at a Minute Clinic, “we do refer a lot of patients back to their doctor.”

“Part of our job as nurse practitioners is to know when to refer patients and who to refer them to,” Pohnert said.

“Don’t come to us if you have an abdomen wound from a chain saw. Go to an urgent care clinic or an emergency room,” Pohnert said.

But if you need a flu shot or camp physical, Pohnert said these patients are welcome.

For more information, visit the MinuteClinic Web site at minuteclinic.com.