Aug 22
For instance, in February, when the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart, announced plans to build 400 health clinics at its supercenters nationwide by 2010, it seemed that the “doc-in-a-box” phenomenon was destined to take off. Wal-Mart identified Dallas, Atlanta and Little Rock as among the first markets to open clinics by April. Target was another big-box retailer that had thrown its hat into the ring in select locations nationwide.
Wal-Mart leased space in dozens of stores to outside companies to operate the medical clinics. And the company initially stated that it expected to open the clinics with RediClinic and an unnamed local hospital system in Dallas by the summer of 2008.
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Aug 04
Consumers increasingly are trying alternatives to their local hospitals and doctors, from going abroad for less-costly surgery to seeking quick, basic care at new clinics in drugstores and discounters, experts say.
The number of people heading abroad for “medical tourism” could jump tenfold in the next decade, to nearly 16 million Americans a year seeking cheaper knee and hip replacements, nose jobs, prostate and shoulder surgery, and even heart bypasses, according to a forecast by health care consultants at the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.
Meanwhile, the number of retail clinics operating in pharmacies, big-box and discount stores and supermarkets has jumped from about 200 in 2006 to nearly 1,000 last month, according to a second report from the Deloitte center.
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Jul 30
athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of internet-based business services to physician practices, today announced that RediClinic LLC, a leading operator of retail healthcare facilities, has selected athenahealth’s on-demand business services. RediClinic will use athenaCollector at each of its locations for revenue cycle management. A select number of RediClinics will also use athenahealth’s electronic medical record (EMR) service, athenaClinicals.
“We feel athenahealth’s technology solutions are uniquely positioned to help us deliver the best patient experience possible,” said Web Golinkin, CEO of RediClinic. “athenahealth’s on-demand business services will allow RediClinic to optimize clinical and operational workflows across clinic locations, resulting in improved processing of patients in the clinic and a better connection with our managed care partners.”
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Jul 15
“Retail medicine” is a phrase used to describe healthcare that is delivered in what are colloquially referred to as “retail clinics.” More formally known as convenient care clinics, these small healthcare facilities are typically located in high-traffic retail outlets associated with pharmacies such as Wal-Mart or CVS.
Retail clinics offer people convenient, affordable, and timely access to a limited scope of medical services on a walk-in basis. Since the opening of the first convenience clinic in 2000, more than 3.5 million patients have been treated in the more than 1,000 sites currently operating across America.
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Jul 01
Driven by consumer demand, the convenient care clinic (CCC) tsunami seems unstoppable. Despite initial resistance to the nurse practitioner-staffed CCC concept from many physicians, NPs and the CCC industry have pushed forward. They now stand in a national spotlight that is highlighting an innovative and successful approach to delivering affordable, accessible, quality care for minor conditions.
“NPs are the best kept secret in health care, but the healthcare system cannot afford these types of secrets. The CCC industry puts NPs front and center,” says Susan Apold, RN, PhD, ANP, immediate past president of the American College of Nurse Practitioners. The secret is officially out, and Convenient Care Association member clinics are employing NPs to staff 80% to 85% of clinics.
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