III 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 15 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 25 (legislative day, January 5), 2011 Mr. Inouye (for himself and Mr. Cochran) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating the week of August 1 through August 7, 2011, as National Convenient Care Clinic Week, and supporting the goals and ideals of raising awareness of the need for accessible and cost-effective health care options to complement the traditional health care model.

Whereas convenient care clinics are health care facilities located in high-traffic retail outlets that provide affordable and accessible care to patients who might otherwise be delayed or unable to schedule an appointment with a traditional primary care provider; Whereas millions of people in the United States do not have a primary care provider, and there is a worsening primary care shortage that will prevent many people from obtaining one in the future; Whereas convenient care clinics have provided an accessible alternative for more than 15,000,000 people in the United States since the first clinic opened in 2000, continue to expand rapidly, and as of June 2010, consist of approximately 1,100 clinics in 35 States; Whereas convenient care clinics follow rigid industry-wide quality of care and safety standards; Whereas convenient care clinics are staffed by highly qualified health care providers, including advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and physicians; Whereas convenient care clinicians all have advanced education in providing quality health care for common episodic ailments including cold and flu, skin irritation, and muscle strains or sprains, and can also provide immunizations, physicals, and preventive health screening; Whereas convenient care clinics are proven to be a cost-effective alternative to similar treatment obtained in physician offices, urgent care, or emergency departments; and Whereas convenient care clinics complement traditional medical service providers by providing extended weekday and weekend hours without the need for an appointment, short wait times, and visits that generally last only 15 to 20 minutes: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)designates the week of August 1 through August 7, 2011, as National Convenient Care Clinic Week; (2)supports the goals and ideals of National Convenient Care Clinic Week to raise awareness of the need for accessible and cost-effective health care options to complement the traditional health care model; (3)recognizes the obstacles many people in the United States face in accessing the traditional medical home model of health care; (4)encourages the use of convenient care clinics as a complimentary alternative to the medical home model of health care; and (5)calls on the States to support the establishment of convenient care clinics so that more people in the United States will have access to the cost-effective and necessary emergent and preventive services provided in the clinics.