Authorizing Council's Committees on Commerce and Economic Development and Public Health and Human Services to hold joint hearings on the lack of retail medical clinics in chain stores within the City as compared with the surrounding suburbs and the degree to which such clinics could provide Philadelphians affordable and convenient healthcare services as well as promote local economic development.

WHEREAS, Nearly one thousand retail clinics have opened in drug stores and other retail chains throughout the country offering in-store affordable and convenient medical services for minor illnesses and injuries as well as such things as sports physicals and vaccinations; and

WHEREAS, A recent University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine study found that these clinics have opened more often in higher-income areas and therefore are not meeting their full potential to address the alarming problem of the growing number of uninsured and underinsured; and

WHEREAS, In the past four years some retail clinics have expanded their services to go beyond routine maladies by including treatment for chronic conditions such as osteoporosis and asthma; and

WHEREAS, According to a study reported in the September 1st issue of

Annals of Internal Medicine

, retail clinics have proven to be cost-effective with cost savings of 30 to 40 percent over physician's offices and urgent care centers and 80 percent cheaper than in emergency rooms while providing quality service through the use of experienced family nurse practitioners and physicians assistants; and

WHEREAS, There are only two retail clinics within the borders of Philadelphia despite the proliferation of a variety of drug store chains; and

WHEREAS, Establishing retail clinics in medically underserved communities throughout Philadelphia would also boost revenues to those pharmacies and promote local economic growth, now therefore

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADEPHIA,

Hereby authorizes the committees on Commerce and Economic Development and Public Health and Human Services to hold joint hearings on the lack of retail medical clinics in chain stores within the City as compared with the surrounding suburbs and the degree to which such clinics could provide Philadelphians affordable and convenient healthcare services as well as promote economic development.

End