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Paper, Plastic Or A Checkup?

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By JOYCE McKENZIE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

Updated: 02/18/2008 07:22 pm

TEMPLE TERRACE - Upon your arrival home after a day at work, your teenage daughter informs you she has a sore throat and a fever.

You glance at the clock and quickly realize your family doctor's office is closed for the day, leaving you in a quandary about how to treat her illness.

You might opt to have her struggle through the night in the hope that she feels better in the morning.

And, if not, you could take your chances that the doctor's schedule would allow her to be seen that day.

Either way, it likely would mean a restless night's sleep for you both.

The staff at The Little Clinic inside Publix at 5450 E. Busch Blvd. knows all too well the sick-children issues that busy parents often face.

The clinic is open to serve patients with common illnesses and minor injuries seven days a week.

It serves patients 12 months of age and older. Back-to-school exams, sports physicals and blood pressure, vision and blood sugar tests also are available.

"Our health care system is not necessarily the most consumer-friendly industry," said Lisa Loscalzo, a founder and executive vice president of the company. "Here you don't have to make an appointment, and generally patients don't have to wait. But, if there is a short wait, we'll give them pagers and beep them when they are ready to be seen."

The clinic is staffed by certified family-practice nurse practitioners.

"We look for nurse practitioners who have had several years of experience and people who like to work autonomously," Loscalzo said. "We like them to look at themselves as health care resource people and to feel comfortable knowing that even when patients are not sick, they may stop by and ask them questions."

The nurse practitioners are able to prescribe medications and work in collaboration with local physicians who are available to take their phone calls.

"We're not looking to replace family physicians in any shape or form," Loscalzo said. "We operate strictly as a neighborhood convenience facility that is open nights, weekends and after hours."

The company opened its first two clinics in 2003 in Kroger supermarkets in Louisville, Ky. It has since also partnered with Kroger and Publix to establish clinics in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Tennessee.

"Our clinics are provided as convenient neighborhood destinations because we don't want people to have to travel far to get good health care," said Loscalzo, who has more than 20 years' experience as a health care administrator.

Therese Kossuth, one of the nurse practitioners at the Temple Terrace facility, worked in a neurosurgeon's office for 16 years. She wanted to work in a treatment facility that allowed her more direct contact with patients. "I really like the concept," Kossuth said.

So does Emanuel Parad of Tampa, who recently visited the clinic with what he thought was a bad cold that seemed to be getting worse.

"I called my doctor and, not surprisingly, I couldn't get in," Parad said. "So I dropped by the clinic, and I got much more than I expected."

While methodically going through his medical history and his list of daily medications, Parad said, the nurse practitioner expressed concern about the safety of combining two of the drugs. It prompted him to contact his doctor, who admitted to the oversight.

"I was really impressed," said Parad, who was diagnosed with strep throat and an ear infection. "They even followed up by sending me a note that thanked me for coming and said they hoped I felt better."

The company's Web site, www.thelittleclinic.com, lists the services it offers, pricing and which insurance carriers it accepts.

The Little Clinic will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: The Little Clinic

WHERE: Inside Publix at 5450 E. Busch Blvd.

WHEN: Hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

INFORMATION: Call (813) 316-4083 or visit www.thelittle clinic.com.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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