New RCEC session tracks help retailers, clinics, health systems
ORLANDO, Fla. — With retail clinic sales rising an estimated 81% per year since 2005 and sales expansion projected to continue in the coming years, according to recent research, The Drug Store News Group and Retail Clinician magazine, in partnership with the Convenient Care Association, will host the fourth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress in August.
The three-day conference, which features three separate tracks of programming, including 14 live hours of continuing education for nurse practitioners working in a retail clinic setting, will convene from Aug. 1 to 3 at the Gaylord Palms hotel in Orlando, Fla.
“The value of healthcare services delivered in this healthcare segment is rapidly reaching $1 billion and growing in double digits. The effects of healthcare reform and the need to drive patients toward high-quality, affordable and accessible health care will continue to positively influence convenient care clinic growth and utilization,” said Wayne Bennett, publisher of The Drug Store News Group.
One key addition to RCEC 2012 is a Collaborative Care Track, which features six dually accredited continuing education sessions for both NPs and pharmacists. The purpose of this new, one-day track is to better align clinic and pharmacy staff. “We know the best health care in this country is provided by a team. We are excited to introduce the collaborative care track, which is a hallmark of how health care will be provided in the future,” noted Tine Hansen-Turton, CCA executive director.
Another new wrinkle in this year’s program is a special Executive and Health Systems Leadership Colloquium track. This track of sessions, which runs concurrent with other continuing education programming sessions, is designed to bring hospital executives and health system administrators together with retail operators looking to expand their scope of services.
“We have seen the traditional medical community make huge strides in terms of its acceptance of the retail clinic model,” noted The Drug Store News Group editor-in-chief Rob Eder. “What was once viewed as a ‘disruptive force’ in health care is now seen as complementary. For retail pharmacy operators across all channels, partnerships with local hospitals and healthcare systems offer an easier and lower-cost-of-entry option for opening a retail clinic.”