Oct. 10, 2008 at 8:44am

MultiCare Express Clinic Visit

I've had sinus junk going on for about a month and finally felt it was getting bad enough to have checked out. A couple Friday's ago I took off work in the afternoon and, instead of the usual urgent care, tried out a MultiCare Express clinic in the Rite Aid on Pacific and 72nd [ map ]. The program is new and I only knew about it since they're a client at work. Nevertheless, it seemed like it would fit the bill for this seemingly minor ailment.

Toward the back of the store is a small waiting area with a kiosk holding clipboards with the requisite forms. Within 5 or so minutes the nurse practitioner on duty had a patient leave and took me right in. She put everything into their computer then immediately talked to me about how I felt and took a look into the various holes in my head. She then took a listen to my breathing as well as some thump tests around my abdomen.

A prescription for some nasal spray, antibiotics, and only a $15 co-pay later and I was done. I even typed this in the same store while I waited for my prescription.

All in all, I'd easily do this again. To be in and out of any medical office within a half hour is incredible. Granted the wait may also be attributed to the program's newness but if these clinics are spread among more drug stores I imagine wait times could be kept down and probably also offset waits at urgent care facilities. In the meantime I'm a fan and will look to go express instead of urgent whenever the ailment merits.