The Doctor is In

NEW YORK CITY, Feb. 4, 2009 ??? "Affordable healthcare in a New York Minute" is the tag line of one local pharmacy chain advertising its "Doctor-is-In" walk-in clinic model. The pharmacy clinic offers a doctor on site, no appointment necessary, delivering basic health care from a menu of ailments that can be treated. From sore throats to flu vaccinations, from sinus infections to minor burns, these "retail clinics" can treat what ails you, for a price.

The Section of Healthcare Delivery at The New York Academy of Medicine will debate the merits of this and other new modes of affordable

NYAM lecture discusses new affordable models of health care access.

community healthcare in its first lecture series of the year. "Medical Homes and Retail Clinics" on February 10 will feature representatives from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the RAND Corporation, EmblemHealth and the Commonwealth Fund will discuss how these alternatives supplement the primary care model to help meet our current healthcare challenges.

Medical Homes, as opposed to retail clinics, deliver comprehensive, patient-centered primary care. This form of care is community based and tailored to respond to each individual. Usually medical homes include a regular provider and place of care; easy access to providers by phone; available medical care and advice during evenings and weekends and office visits with a provider who runs on schedule and is well organized.

Both models offer crucial services to those in the community who either may have no access to healthcare or whose official insured healthcare options

Video from the event

Dr. Richard Popeil

Dr. Ateev Mehrotra

Dr. Stephen C. Schoenbaum

Roundtable Discussion

are limited. A 2006 study conducted by The Commonwealth Fund found that over 74 percent of adults with a Medical Home get proper care in disease management compared to 52 percent who only have a regular provider, and 38 percent who don’t have access to regular care. The study also found an increase in the rate of care minorities received, helping reduce disparities in care and treatment.

Healthcare reform in the United States is slated to be one of the top priorities of this new administration. Efforts are underway to help address disparity, lack of access and the uninsured. Our panelists will address how the Medical Home and Retail Clinic model of healthcare delivery will fit into reform. The audience will come away with a better understanding of current trends in place as well as projections for the future.

NYAM has been advancing the health of people in cities since 1847. An independent organization, NYAM addresses the health challenges facing the world’s urban populations through interdisciplinary approaches to innovative research, education, community engagement and policy leadership. Drawing on the expertise of diverse partners worldwide and more than 2,000 elected Fellows from across the professions, our current priorities are to create environments in cities that support healthy aging; to strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public’s health; and to implement interventions that eliminate health disparities.

Posted on February 6, 2009

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Contact:
Andrew J. Martin
Director of Communications
The New York Academy of Medicine
1216 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10029
212-822-7285
amartin@nyam.org

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