In lieu of reducing insurance costs and co-pays, many parents are opting to take advantage of the in-store clinics provided by some major drugstore and grocery store chains. These mini-health clinics can be a great boon to efficiency-you can pick up laundry detergent, diapers and get a your little guy’s sniffles checked at the same time-but are the safe?

The answer is: It depends. Each of these clinics is different and their effectiveness is only as good as the treatment services they provide and the medical staff providing them. One thing they offer that most doctor services don’t: night and weekend hours. That’s something you won’t get from your family doctor.

In-Store Clinic Staff

For the most part, they are staffed by nurse practitioners who are more educated than registered nurses (like the ones at most public school clinics) and but not quite as knowledgeable as your doctor. A rule of thumb: for little problems like a cough, it’s fine to get checked up at this clinic, but remember to ask that yours and your child’s medical records be forwarded to your family doctor. If you have a chronic condition, you may wish to avoid these clinics altogether as you may end up with a prescription that could conflict with current medications or be dangerous to your health.

In-Store Clinic Services

Some offer free services, but others require your insurance to cover them so the cost may still be an issue. As far as the services provided, it could be anywhere from basic diagnostic and treatment measures for pinkeye and the flu all the way up to basic x-ray and lab services. Again, it varies by location.

If you choose to take advantage of a free in-store clinic service, make sure that you call your doctor and ask if you should schedule a follow-up with her.