By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Most seniors have embraced doc-in-a-box strip mall clinics and urgent care centers as a means of getting prompt medical care, a new poll has found.<\/p>\n
About 60% of people ages 50 to 80 have visited an urgent care center or a retail health clinic during the past two years — even though those sorts of options weren t available earlier in their lives.<\/p>\n
The rapid rise in availability of these kinds of clinics, which typically offer walk-in convenience, expanded hours and self-scheduling of appointments in locations close to home, work or shopping, has transformed the American health care landscape in less than two decades, said Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren<\/a>, director of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.<\/p>\n Urgent care centers are the most common alternative source of care for seniors and the middle-aged, with 47% visiting one at least once and 23% going more than once within the past two years.<\/p>\n And 28% said they have gone to a retail health clinic, a same-day office typically located in a strip mall, workplace or vehicle.<\/p>\n Three-quarters of seniors (75%) who have gone to an alternative clinic said they re likely to go again sometime within the next two years, poll results show.<\/p>\n Also, 43% of people who hadn t gotten care at an alternative clinic said they are likely to do so in the next two years.<\/p>\n However, most older adults with a primary care doctor said they prefer the quality of care and sense of connection at their regular clinic.<\/p>\n About 52% of those who d gone to an alternative clinic said the quality of care was better with their regular doctor, and 67% said they felt more of a connection with their primary care doctor.<\/p>\n On the other hand, 43% said the alternative clinic was more convenient than their usual provider.<\/p>\n With the nationwide shortage of primary care providers, it s important to understand how this age group, with generally higher medical needs, views and uses this type of care, Kullgren added in a Michigan news release.<\/p>\n Of those who went to an alternative clinic, 44% said they wanted to avoid going to an emergency room and 35% said they needed a vaccine, test or physical exam.<\/p>\n Access to timely and convenient care was critical for older adults during the pandemic, and our research shows alternative care options will continue to be in demand for the long-term, said Susan Reinhard<\/a>, senior vice president and director of AARP Public Policy Institute. The AARP participated in the new survey.<\/p>\n The poll was conducted online and via phone in July and August 2023, among 2,657 adults ages 50 to 80.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n Harvard Medical School has more on retail health clinics<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, April 10, 2024<\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n