At the beginning of September 2022, UnitedHealth Group and Walmart announced a new partnership within the convenient care clinic space. Many experts believe this represents a game-changer when it comes to the future of healthcare in America. Convenient care sites provide low-acuity care, including retail clinics and urgent care. Besides UnitedHealth Group and Walmart, other brands already invested in this new direction include CVS and Walgreens. Although these companies have been making forays into the medical care industry for the past decade, the last two years have witnessed the biggest gains and disruptions. In the wake of these developments, primary care providers are facing increased pressures to provide patients with the right care in the proper setting. Keep reading to learn more about the future of healthcare and where convenient care clinics fit into the mix.
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In 1970, healthcare spending in the United States totaled $74.1 billion and ballooned to $1.4 trillion by 2000. Two decades later, these costs tripled, tallying in at $4.1 trillion. From 2019 to 2020, health care spending shot up by 9.7 percent, more than double the 2018 to 2019 figure. What these stats make clear is healthcare spending is on the rise, and Americans need more affordable healthcare options. One way to provide these options involves shifting towards convenient care centers. A trend underscored by Walmart and UnitedHealth Group’s recent announcement that they have joined forces in a long-term, value-based healthcare partnership. Here’s everything you need to know about this development and what it says about the future of healthcare in America. One of the most important administrative aspects of successfully running a clinic involves accurate Medicare billing. It requires excellent attention to detail and a thorough, up-to-date understanding of the latest regulations and procedures. It’s not an area of your clinic where you want to make any mistakes. One clinic recently found this out the hard way and has reaped expensive consequences. More specifically, two medical doctors are facing fines of $181,758 to resolve mislabeling associated with the billing of Sanexas devices. In mid-June, US Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams made this announcement, naming Thomas Rocchio, DPM, and Adam Teichman, DPM, of PA Foot & Ankle Associates, LLC. As co-owners of the practice, Roccio and Teichman are both podiatrists with office locations throughout Pennsylvania. Here's what you need to know about this stunning development and what it means for your practice. Studies have revealed just how dramatically diabetic peripheral neuropathy impacts quality of life. Consider this. When therapeutic interventions reverse the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, this results in a 72 percent improvement in activities of daily life, a 78 percent decrease in falls, and a 79 percent reduction in balance-related falls (via Age and Ageing). In other words, addressing peripheral neuropathy leads to longer, healthier, and more independent lives for patients and their caretakers. Factors like keeping a driver’s license longer lead to a higher quality of life for patients while reducing burdens on caretakers’ plates. Keep reading to learn more about mobility and restored quality of life for neuropathy patients. Peripheral neuropathy caregivers play a critical role in helping those suffering from this neurological disorder. Peripheral neuropathy’s most common symptoms include burning, pain, prickling, and tingling. Over time, the condition leads to loss of sensation in the feet and hands, which can prove debilitating. For example, many patients lose the ability to drive, impacting their capacity to live independently. But it doesn’t have to be this way. As a pharmacist or clinician, you can support peripheral neuropathy caregivers by helping them identify the condition and find therapeutic solutions. Caregiving requires effort and time, especially with patients in the latter stages of neuropathy. But pharmacists and clinicians can help relieve this burden by assisting caregivers in identifying the condition and pursuing effective treatment solutions. Here’s what you need to know about supporting those suffering with neuropathy and their caregivers. Roughly 25 to 30 million people in America suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Many of these patients describe neuropathic pain as a shooting or burning feeling. Others talk about numbness, pins-and-needle sensations, or tingling. While a lucky few report the condition disappearing on its own, more experience intermittent pain, increasing in severity and persistence over time. In the most extreme cases, patients report unrelenting and severe pain. Neuropathy is caused by cells misfiring, leading to abnormal sensations and changes in nerve function and nerve damage. One of the primary factors contributing to peripheral neuropathy is poorly managed diabetes. Neuropathy pain management offers a light at the end of the tunnel for many patients dealing with fluctuating or chronic discomfort. Find out more about options to help your patients take back their lives. In recent years, products containing L-Citrulline and L-Arginine have deluged the market. They entice individuals looking to ramp up their nitric oxide levels. But how effective are these supplements? Recent research shows they don’t do much and can even negatively impact patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. This knowledge leads to a conundrum for pharmacists and convenient care clinicians. How do you assist patients in boosting nitric oxide levels? Begin by helping patients say “no” to L-Arginine and L-Citrulline supplements. But what should patients replace these supplements with? Keep reading for the inside scoop on high-quality nitric oxide supplementation. Patients suffering from diabetes and peripheral neuropathy often experience loss of sensation in their arms and legs. A decrease in feeling can lead to increased concerns about fall risk, which, in turn, can contribute to inactivity and instability. This vicious cycle, whereby patients limit their physical activity to avoid falling, can translate into loss of muscle mass and decreases in strength and coordination, too. The consequences of moving less often involve more falls and falls of greater severity. When it comes to balance and neuropathy, concern about falling often directly correlates with the number of steps taken per day and the duration of walking sessions. For example, those least concerned about stumbling enjoy 50 percent more walking sessions and step counts than their counterparts who rate their balance as shakier, per Sensors. Here’s what you need to know about neuropathy and balance to help your patients stay more active and independent. One of the most common neurological disorders, peripheral neuropathy affects between 25 to 30 percent of Americans (via the Cleveland Clinic). Despite these stats, neuropathy often goes misdiagnosed and undertreated. What’s more, evaluation for the disease can prove expensive and extensive, and it often fails to address the underlying causes of the condition, per JAMA Internal Medicine. There are many reasons for these diagnosis issues, including the variability and bewildering array of symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy. For this reason, medical professionals may hesitate to make a diagnosis. But it doesn’t have to be this way, and your customers don’t have to fall through the cracks. Keep reading to find out more about diagnosis and peripheral neuropathy treatment. 5 Strategies of Independent Pharmacies/Convenient Care Centers Successfully Addressing Neuropathy4/25/2022 Independent pharmacies and convenient care clinics occupy special places in the medical industry. Patients turn to them for assistance managing their health conditions and care needs. Since consumers bear more financial responsibility for healthcare these days, engaging with their pharmacists and clinicians has become even more crucial. But some patients prove more likely to fall through the cracks, especially when it comes to conditions like diabetic neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy impacts more than 50 percent of those managing diabetes, per the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This serious condition, fueled by high blood sugar, can lead to irreversible nerve damage, loss of independence, loss of a driver’s license, and an amputation in many cases. While symptoms usually manifest in the feet, legs, and hands they may also affect the kidneys, bladder, and other body parts. Fortunately, your facility can fill vital gaps, ensuring patients with neuropathy and their caregivers benefit from the latest technologies. Here are five medical business strategies to help your pharmacy or convenient care clinic take charge and dominate this space. |
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March 2026
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