Clark is a big fan of the “minute clinics” that are popping up in grocery stores and department stores. They provide quick, efficient service and they cost less than a visit to an actual doctor’s office. There is a shortage of primary care doctors these days, in part because they’ve been crushed financially by insurance companies. In fact, in the beach area where Clark has a vacation home, pediatricians have refused to take on any new patients. More often, doctors are going into specialties because it’s the only way they can make real money. So, we’re headed for a time when the point of contact is going to be a nurse or nurse practitioner. Speaking of, Harris did a survey of the “nurse-in-a-box” clinics, and 90 percent of people are happy with the care. Some people worry about the quality of care from a nurse. But people who’ve actually seen a nurse at one of the clinics are overwhelmingly happy with the care.