[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 1, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S5884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 540--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF AUGUST 6 THROUGH AUGUST 
         10, 2012, AS ``NATIONAL CONVENIENT CARE CLINIC WEEK''

  Mr. INOUYE (for himself and Mr. Cochran) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 540

       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
       Resolved, 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.

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