Health care - the big box way

Retail chains in the United States are venturing into new territory by offering on-site health clinics at their stores, providing convenience and low-priced health care for hurried customers. CVS and Target have partnered with MinuteClinics to open several clinics around the country, while Wal-Mart is negotiating with InterFit Health to open clinics in several states. Drugstores Rite-Aid and Walgreen's are working with Take Care clinics.

With the growth of mail-order pharmacies, drugstores and large retailers are looking for ways to expand their services and increase revenue. In-store clinics could do just that while providing benefits to shoppers, say observers:
 

• In-store health clinics provide about 30 basic services, such as treatment for athlete's foot, tetanus shots and flu shots; furthermore, nurse practitioners that staff the clinics are authorised to write prescriptions.
   
• While a typical visit to a doctor's office costs $110, in-store clinic visits cost anywhere from $25 to $60.
   
• In-store clinics have extended hours and no appointment is required; in fact, Target's MinuteClinics allow shoppers to sign in, carry a beeper and shop the store until the nurse contacts them.
  
  In-store health clinics will provide convenience for customers on the go who don't have time to sit in a doctor's office, say observers. Meanwhile, doctors are concerned about losing business to this cheaper alternative for consumers. Critics also worry that in-store clinics not staffed by doctors will misdiagnose potentially serious illnesses.
  
  Source: Jane Spencer, Getting Your Health Care at Wal-Mart, Wall Street Journal, October 5, 2005.
  
  For text (subscription required): http://online.wsj.com/article/SB112847351020560194.html?mod=todays_us_personal_journal
  
  For more on Health: http://www.ncpa.org/iss/hea/
  
  FMF Policy Bulletin 18 October 2005