Convenient care clinics: the future of accessible health care--the formation years 2006-2008

In the 2 years since the Convenient Care Association (CCA), a nonprofit organization representing the members of the Convenient Care industry, was founded, this new model has gained significant traction in the health care marketplace and in the awareness of health care consumers. When the CCA was formed, fewer than 200 clinics were in operation. Now, there are more than 1000 clinics seeing patients, and more than 3.5 million patient visits have been recorded across the country. As the industry has expanded, some challenges have arisen, mostly in the form of legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at impeding clinic operation. The CCA and its members continue to undertake substantial efforts to build comprehensive quality processes into the convenient care model. The effect of these measures has been to mitigate the allegations of poor quality and inconsistent care that have been levied against the clinics. The media and public responses have been generally positive, and policy makers and other decision makers have been receptive to the benefits convenient care can offer to their constituents.