Retail health clinics: should you walk in or walk on by?

It's Saturday afternoon, and you think you have bronchitis. Should you wait until your doctor's office opens on Monday or head to the nearest Wal-Mart, where you can get tested, treated, and have a prescription filled all in about 15 minutes-and all for about $60 or an insurance co-pay?

About 300 drop-in medical clinics are now operating in big-box stores, supermarkets, and drugstores nationwide, with another 300 or so slated to open by year's end. With slogans such as "You're Sick. We're Quick," they treat a fairly limited roster of common ailments, require no appointment, charge affordable prices, and are open when the only other option might be an emergency room. Since they're typically in stores with pharmacies, you can fill any prescription on your way out. About half of the clinics take some insurance.

The clinics are staffed mainly by physician assistants and nurse practitioners- registered nurses who have additional education and, like doctors, can order and interpret diagnostic tests and prescribe drugs. If you show up with a problem too serious for a clinic to handle, such as a broken bone, you'll be sent to your primary-care doctor or the hospital.

At the largest chains, including RediClinic, MinuteClinic, and Take Care Health ...