By Healthcare Facilities Today

The American Academy of Pediatrics is discouraging parents from taking sick kids to retail health clinics, according to an article on the KSHB website.

A recent AAP report said retail-based clinics are an inappropriate source of primary care for children because they do not provide children with high-quality, regular and preventive health care, the article said.

Retail health clinics like the CVS MinuteClinic, Walgreens' Health Clinic and Krogers' The Little Clinic among others are becoming a popular alternative to the doctor's office with more than 20 million patient visits, the article said.

The clinics’ shorter wait times, lower costs and longer hours should not be the trade-off for secondary healthcare, according to AAP.

“The AAP recognizes that convenience and access to care will continue to be important drivers of how health care is delivered,” report author Dr. James Laughlin said in the article.

 “However, the expertise of the pediatrician and the medical home should continue to be recognized as the standard for care of children, and we encourage all AAP members to provide accessible hours and locations as part of a medical home.”

Read the article.