May 08
Retail clinics are hitting some tough realities as they move past the era of hype.
Like the Internet, the clinics aren’t going away. But an initial wave of enthusiasm does seem to be passing, as some clinics go bust and others scale back expansion plans, the WSJ reports.
In the past few years, hundreds of clinics, typically staffed by nurse practitioners and physicians assistants, have sprung up in grocery stores, pharmacies and big-box retailers. They treat only simple ailments, post their prices for all to see and don’t require appointments.
But the business model turns out to be a bit trickier than some thought. In recent months, 69 clinics in 15 states have shut down, including those in Wal-Marts and Medicine Shoppes (a unit of Cardinal Health). CVS is scaling back expansion plans for its MinuteClinics, and may close some of its clinics.
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May 07
The boom in walk-in health clinics located inside pharmacies, supermarkets and big-box retailers is showing signs of slowing.
Hailed as an inexpensive option for treating minor health ailments like sore throats and rashes, the retail clinics have grown in number to 963 as of May 1 from just 125 three years ago. The clinics typically feature nurse practitioners who can prescribe basic drugs, and the price for a visit ranges from $50 to $75.
But in recent months, retail health-clinic operators based in New York, Nevada, Indiana and Alabama have closed their doors, shuttering 69 clinics in 15 states.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Original Publication Date: May 7, 2008
May 07
Take Care Health Systems expanded into Colorado Tuesday with the opening of three walk-in medical clinics at Denver-area Walgreens stores.
Take Care is a subsidiary of Walgreens. The company has 168 Take Care Health Clinics in 17 cities, with plans for more than 400 by year’s end.
The initial Colorado locations are in the Walgreens at 5190 W. 120th Ave. in Broomfield; 19028 Lincoln Ave. in Parker; and 4401 Wadsworth Blvd. in Wheat Ridge.
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May 02
Publix Super Markets here opened three in-store health clinics run by The Little Clinic, Brentwood, Tenn., this month. One opened in the Tampa-area town of Palm Harbor, bringing the total of Publix clinics in the market to eight. Another opened in Apopka in the Orlando area. The Little Clinic reported that two additional Orlando area clinics are now under construction and will open later this year. The third clinic, in Miami, was the eighth Little Clinic in Publix Miami-area stores. Six additional Miami area clinics are now under construction and will open later this year.
Source: Supermarket News
Original Publication Date: May 2, 2008
Apr 29
Take Care Health Systems, one of the largest managers of care clinics and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens, has begun accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee.
Twelve Take Care Health Clinics at Nashville-area Walgreens will participate.
With the addition of Blue Cross, which covers nearly one-third of Nashville’s insured individuals, approximately 80 percent of insured residents in the area can receive treatment.
BlueCross plans accepted at Take Care Health Clinics will include Network P/Blue Preferred, Network S/Blue Select, Network V/CoverTN and BlueCross Federal Employee Program and out of state BlueCard.
Source: Nashville Business Journal
Original Publication Date: April 29, 2008
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