In Praise of Publix Little Clinic

I love Publix Little Clinic. Last year I awoke on a Saturday morning with what felt like the first inklings of a bladder infection. If not for the Little Clinic I would have had to wait until Monday to try and get an appointment with my primary care physician. And I may not have gotten in right away. And if I had gotten an appointment I probably would have had to wait for who knows how long in the waiting room to actually see the doctor. As it was, I walked into the Little Clinic, waited five minutes, and was seen by a very pleasant nurse practitioner.   She determined in short order that I did have the beginning of a bladder infection and prescribed FREE antibiotics for it. The visit cost me $69 and I was right as rain within 24 hours.  (I should mention that it did feel a little weird to carry my urine sample from the rest room through the store in a paperbag; however, this slight discomfort was TOTALLY WORTH IT).

This past weekend, I awoke on Saturday to a persistent dry cough. I had a small break in my workday so I decided to visit the Little Clinic. I was seen within five minutes and the nurse practitioner Diane confirmed bronchitis and an upper respiratory infection. She prescribed antiobiotics which again were FREE. The visit cost me $69. Within 12 hours I was feeling on my way to recovery.

While I understand that not every medical problem can be solved so easily as mine were I was struck by how efficient it was to address my small problems at The Little Clinic before they took root and turned into bigger ones. If I had been forced to wait for my primary physician I would have been a lot sicker and a lot poorer.

Last year when I had bronchitis I put off going to the doctor because I could not afford the time and headache of trying to get in to see my primary. When I finally did go in I was quite sick. The antibiotics and inhaler prescribed cost me over $250! And that was with insurance! Shortly after that experience I changed my insurance to a high deductible plan with a health savings account so that I could pay cash for my medical needs. I found that it actually costs less to pay “cash” for many providers than to try to go through insurance.

Recently when President Obama began initiating healthcare reform I began getting calls from insurance companies trying to sell me on PPO plans. This was the type of plan I had when I had to pay $250 for medication for my bronchitis. I reflected that since I had changed to my high deductible plan with a medical savings card I had actually paid less in premiums and actual costs for healthcare services. I felt like switching back to a PPO plan would not only be more expensive for me personally, but that it would be contributing to high medical costs for everyone.

I guess what I am trying to say here is that if you have a minor issue, try giving the Little Clinic a try. I for one am really glad nurse Diane is there when I need her.