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Use of retail clinics is increasing despite organized medicine's appeal to provide care for children in a primary care medical home. In a survey of nearly 1500 parents in 19 Midwestern pediatric practices, 37% of parents and 23% of their children had received medical care at a retail clinic (nearly half making more than one visit).
Upper respiratory infection was the most common reason for retail-clinic visits. Antibiotics were prescribed for 85% of ear infections, 79% of sore throats, and 68% of colds or flu. About 75% of parents who visited retail clinics considered visiting their pediatrician but selected a retail clinic for the convenient hours, because no appointment was available with their pediatrician, or because they felt the proble…