I spent 45 minutes in the  Minute Clinic in the University Village, Seattle. And my very achy chest seems pointed in the right direction. Handy, not the University of Washington ED, hospital-based medicine. But the walkaway is:

• I got seen immediately, was assessed in a way that was handy; thorough; and by a nurse practictioner who said she'd previously been a traveler nurse in Madera.
• Yes, I did suggest she consider working for Community Medical Centers.
• I also told her about my bias about clinics, vs the 24/7 places and the lack of docs who will work weekends etc. We are doing more with less -- is this less more?
• Well, today, I see where CVS has bought Longs Drugs, and since CVS owns Minute Clinics, maybe the Valley will see more clinics of this ilk that I met in the university district.
• I don't feel threatened -- if the caliber is up to Marianne standard -- not threatened in care quality or availability. But this is a business model. Does it help? Who does it hurt?

All I can say is I had bronchitis and no MD -- and no desire to test the time wait at U of W? And I am feeling better. The idea that one size fits all, well, seems a tight fit. See you soon, my Fresno doc.