Is there a need for a Walk In Clinic at Truckstops

You should change your name to Harvey Ballbuster.

I know you are pressed for time in between dieselbear's shoeshines, but you still had enough free time to come up with that sig pic, which made me spit my coffee all over the keyboard. Too funny.

 

Most Walk In clinics cater to folks who do not have insurance and price their services accordingly. Many of them do not take insurance at all. Around here... $30 for a routine office visit at a Walk In clinic is pretty standard.

Some independent Walk In clinics are owned and staffed by doctors who cannot work in a traditional medical setting for whatever reason... malpractice claims, lawsuits, felony charges, etc. That's why they operate on a 100% cash basis. They still have a license to practice, but insurance providers will not touch them.

I have medical insurance, but the first $3k per year is 100% on me. When needed, I usually just go to a local Walk In clinic that I've found to be excellent. The doctor is awesome and just as skilled as anyone out there. He cures me on the first try every time. Well worth the $30 per visit and sure beats paying my regular doctor $125+ who usually guesses wrong and always wants to run tests.

 

My local Doctor works much the same way. But he has recently started refusing patients. I suspect it has something to do with medicaid and medicare, but I can't confirm that.

One thing I like about my personal physician. He actually listens when I speak. So he generally hits it out of the park, with one visit. I check back in every 6 months for a follow up, and a new scrip. Visit is $50. Scrips are $15 a month on average.

If I had taken my companies insurance. I would have been out almost $15k last year....plan cost, plus deductibles.

Since I didn't. My healthcare cost was less than $4k. And that includes a boatload of dental work for me AND the wife.

 

DOT physicals? .. no. Company would require them be done at some place near their terminal(s)

Cold/flu incidents?. Maybe a handful would have the cash to go in, but what are you going to do for them, prescribe an antibiotic? By the time most got in, the worst would be over, and all that can be done is try and alleviate the symptoms best you can with OTC meds that are non-narcotic and safe to drive with which are few.

Workplace "accidents"? I would not go to a small, "med-clinic" for initial visit(s). Workmens comp may disallow because the employee was not seen by a "qualified medical practitioner". Cab fare and a trip to the nearest ER would be my choice, insurance or no, but bottom line, the driver would have to follow company policy following any sort of OTJ injury.

Besides, soon we will ALL be able to have reduced medical benefits and options, that are universal and for everyone, for about the same bottom-line cost, assuming we can wait 2 weeks to get in to our assigned 'doctor'. I can't wait for Obamacare to reach it's full intent.

 

ER is $1000 an hour. I'd rather operate on myself.

 

Same here. My $30 Walk In "doc" is a true blessing. I don't like to take up much of his time... but he will listen and spend a good 30 minutes with you if you need it. I give him a little background of what's going on and he's just "on" it. Very smart and skilled guy. I've been seeing him about 3 years and I can't think of one time he hasn't significantly helped me. I'm usually back to my old self the evening after I see him.

I'm about ready to see if he can start refilling my annual generic prescriptions. That's all I see my regular doctor for anymore and I'd much rather give my Walk In guy the money over anyone else.

I personally think Walk In clinics are a great idea in today's dismal medical world and I think they would be a tremendous resource located close to truck stops.

 

Agreed.

IF you know what's wrong. And you know how to fix it.

IMO it's best to see the cheapest you can find. Why would anyone pay $200 to have a scrip written?

It just pisses me off to no end that I even have to see a Doctor every 6 months. To get a refill of a medication I will be taking the rest of my life. My arthritis may get worse. But it #### sure ain't going away.

I guess I should bow down and kiss the FDA's ring for doing such a good job of protecting THEIR jobs.

 

I have seen a few chiropractors as well as legitimate certified massage therapists at truck stops in the past. A few years ago my back was killing me and I went to a chiropractor that was then located at the Denver TA. That is the first and only time I went to a chiropractor and she was able to fix me that day and my back felt immediately better.

It was little unusual because she said her husband did not approve of her having a practice at/near a truckstop and was insanely jealous. Thought that was interesting that she shared that information with me. I noticed in later trips that her office was gone.

I think there is a need for good medical care close to truck stops.

 

I do too.Truckers can't just get home and seek medical help.One time I had to go to outpatients while on the road for a bad toothache.I parked my rig on the side of the street.Kind of a scarey situation but I did it.

 

I havent been there in awhile but didnt Iowa 80- TA travel plaza in Wallcot , Iowa have a walk in clinc , i thought they said they did, mayby not