PHOENIX (AP) -- Over the last two years, some grocery and drug stores in the Phoenix area have opened walk-in health clinics that can treat minor ailments.

Walk-in clinics inside stores began in Arizona about two years ago when Bashas' began including them inside their Bashas' and Food City stores. Since then, Walgreens and CVS have opened similar clinics with Walgreens operating 13 Take Care Clinics in the Phoenix area.

While some tout the convenience, others in the medical field question why anyone would locate a medical clinic inside a food or drug store. Those who use them say they're quick and easy and in some cases are better than a trip to the doctor's office.

Nurse practitioners staff the clinics that are designed to treat minor illnesses and injuries. Patients with more serious conditions are referred to hospital emergency rooms or urgent-care clinics.

Rosita Torres of Queen Creek said she uses the walk-in clinic. "I haven't been to a doctor in a while, so to try to get in as a new patient on the same day is hard," Torres said.

Some in the medical profession question the wisdom of mixing sick people with shoppers and children who may not be ill.

"I really don't think it's a good idea to mix sick people with healthy ones," said Dr. Doug Campos-Outcalt, associate chair for family and community medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix.

"Sick people mingling with people shopping for groceries just isn't a good idea. Why would you put these things in a grocery store? This doesn't make sense from a public-health point of view."

Mila Garcia, a regional manager for CVS MinuteClinics, said sick patients are all ready mixing with the general public.

Garcia said the clinics, which are open seven days a week, take a load off busy emergency rooms.

---

Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.