III 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 540 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 1, 2012 Mr. Inouye (for himself and Mr. Cochran) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating the week of August 6 through August 10, 2012, as National Convenient Care Clinic Week.

Whereas convenient care clinics are health care facilities located in high-traffic retail outlets that provide affordable and accessible care to patients who have little time to schedule an appointment with a traditional primary care provider or are otherwise unable to schedule such an appointment; Whereas millions of people in the United States do not have a primary care provider, and there is a worsening primary care provider 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, the number of convenient care clinics continues to increase rapidly, and as of June 2012, there are approximately 1,350 convenient care 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 and 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 physicians' offices, urgent care clinics, 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 6 through August 10, 2012, 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 that many people in the United States face difficulties accessing traditional models of health care delivery; (4)supports the use of convenient care clinics as an adjunct to the traditional model of health care delivery; 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.