Success For Retail Health Care Clinics?
Friday Apr 25, 2008Success For Retail Health Care Clinics? in General Healthcare
In the past few months, big retailers such as Walgreens
and Wal-Mart
have started opening in-store health clinics. These clinics provide basic
health services for a set fee, and patients don’t need health
insurance coverage to receive care.
When the retail clinics first started to open their doors, some were wary — health care professionals questioned the quality and safety of the care provided.
But it seems like patients are satisfied with the care.
One walk-in clinic at United Supermarkets in Texas has seen an increase in the number of patients since they opened up in September of last year, reported Amarillo Globe-News and RedOrbit.
In February alone, the United clinic had 800 patient visits.
“The traffic we have seen in our Amarillo clinic has really exceeded our expectations,” said Eddie Owens, communications director at United Supermarkets.
The number of clinics in retail and grocery stores is going up, as well. There are roughly 1,000 open now, and 600 more are expected to be running by the end of the year, estimated the Convenient Care Association.
Wal-Mart has also said they would open more clinics — they want to have 400 nationwide by 2010.
We’ll have to keep you updated on the progress of these health care clinics.
