Early Return Visits by Pediatric Primary Care Patients With Otitis Media: A Retail Nurse Practitioner Clinic Versus Standard Medical Office Care

Purpose: To compare outpatient return visits within 2 weeks experienced by pediatric patients diagnosed with otitis media using retail nurse practitioner clinics to similar patients using standard medical office clinics. Background: The impact of retail clinics on return visit rates has not been extensively studied. Data source: Electronic medical records of pediatric primary care patients seen in a large group practice in Minnesota in 2009 for otitis media. Sample: Patients seen in retail walk-in clinics staffed by nurse practitioners (N = 627) or regular office clinics (N = 2353). Outcome measure: A return visit to any site within 2 weeks. Results: The percentage returning was higher in standard care patients than in retail medicine patients (21.0 vs 11.2, P < .001). The odds of a return visit within 2 weeks were higher in standard care patients than in retail medicine patients after adjusting for propensity to use services, age, and gender (odds ratio = 1.54, P < 0.01). Conclusion: In this group practice, the odds of return visits within 2 weeks for pediatric patients treated for otitis media were lower in retail medicine clinics than in standard office clinics.