[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 832-833]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 15--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

  Mr. INOUYE (for himself and Mr. Cochran) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 15

       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

[[Page 833]]

     generally last only 15 to 20 minutes: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, 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.

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize all of the 
providers who work in retail-based Convenient Care Clinics in a 
Resolution to designate August 1 through August 7, 2011 as National 
Convenient Care Clinic Week. National Convenient Care Clinic Week will 
provide a national platform from which to promote the pivotal services 
offered by the more than 1,100 retail-based convenient care clinics in 
the United States.
  Today, thousands of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and 
physicians provide care in convenient care clinics. At a time when 
Americans are more and more challenged by the inaccessibility and high 
costs of health care, convenient care offers a vital high-quality 
primary care alternative.
  A Senate Resolution will help pave the way for this effort. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to Convenient Care 
Clinics.

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