Cost is one of the primary issues -- it is cheaper to go to an RN than a doctor, and walk-in clinics have lower overhead costs than physician's offices, which is of great concern to uninsured or minimally insured patients. Wait time is another concern -- clinics provide immediate treatment, patients do not have to wait for appointments for a brief, routine procedure, which insured patients may balk at if they merely wish to get a routine culture for strep throat. Using the Internet to access information about insurance and care results in lowered administrative costs for providers, less need for phone operators to provide advice, and results in additional speed for the consumer, in accessing records.
For a patient without insurance, ordering drugs online and not having to pay for a 'live' consult may be more cost-efficient, despite the higher costs of the drugs. Healthcare companies' desire to make a profit may also be 'solved' by diverting some patients to RNs, and refusing to cover routine procedures unless they are deemed absolutely urgent, causing patients to turn to less expensive venues, and by using the Internet as a way to notify parents and to keep patient records -- ideally,...
Overall, until all Americans have coverage, companies requiring all of their own workers to be insured seem like a wise policy for liability reasons. However, an argument could be made that the existence of other channels that may be more cost-effective shows that workers who do not wish to pay a large monthly premium for non-required insurance have other options, albeit less desirable options.
Works Cited
Kantor, Aileen. (Dec 1991). "New role for nurses." Business & Health. Retrieved 23 Jul
2007 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0903/is_n13_v9/ai_11673858
Wal-Mart to expand walk-in clinics in stores." (24 Apr 2007). AP Wire. Retrieved 23 Jul
2007 at MSN. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18292564
