Retail Medicine: The Cure for Healthcare Disparities?(Ache UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY‪)‬

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Healthcare disparities are a growing concern for the U.S. healthcare system. These disparities are found at all levels of quality, access, and cost and greatly affect those segments of the population that most need affordable, quality, and accessible healthcare. The populations most in need are rural, ethnic, racial, and minority populations, who do not usually receive the highest quality of care. A new healthcare delivery model has recently emerged--retail medical clinics. This article describes current disparities in the healthcare system and presents one possible solution: the use of retail medical clinics.