Integrated, value-based care key to ensuring quality in retail clinics

In a recent Medical Economics commentary, Ramin Davidoff, MD, co-CEO of The Permanente Federation, wrote that integrated, value-based care is the key to ensuring a truly convenient, high-quality experience. More consumers are looking to the convenience of retail clinics to meet certain health needs, but this growing demand has potential drawbacks when care isn’t coordinated or connected

From 2021 to 2022, utilization of retail health clinics climbed 202 percent. While receiving care at a big-box store may be convenient, it comes with a hidden cost to long-term patient care, noted Dr. Davidoff.

“The services provided at a retail clinic may seem expedient initially, but they often require a larger time investment later for anyone with complex or chronic health conditions not adequately addressed in a one-off visit that may require specialist care.”

The solution to this challenge is a value-based care model like Kaiser Permanente’s, which emphasizes integrated systems and focuses on coordination across primary care physicians, specialists, hospitals, and electronic medical records in order for patients get the treatment they need, when they need it.

Dr. Davidoff shared how Kaiser Permanente provides care at 35 Target Clinics in Southern California as an example of how integrated, value-based care benefits patients. Whether it’s connecting patient information to electronic medical record systems to better track care or an emphasis on accountability that ensures patients needing specialty care don’t fall into health care gaps, this approach delivers on convenience and high quality.

Related value-based care story: Permanente Federation co-CEOs talk health care innovation, quality, and physician leadership 

“Value-based care makes every interaction with the health care system an opportunity to assess the total health and well-being of an individual, regardless of where a patient receives care — in a retail clinic, hospital or medical office, or via video, phone or online chat,” wrote Dr. Davidoff.

To read the full commentary, visit Medical Economics.