Trending up – that’s what a late 2012 survey report revealed
about the use of retail clinics (generally located in drug stores and staffed
by nurse practitioners or physican's assistants). Not a surprise... that the survey publisher attributes
the rise in use to convenience of appointment-free services, expanded hours
compared to the average physician office and lower costs. The survey from healthcare market
research publisher, Kalorama Information, reported that 21.3% of US adults have
visited a retail clinic - up from 10% in 2006.
Now, Kalorama reports that retail clinics are favored more
by higher earning households. A survey of 2000 adults revealed
that “59% of survey participants who said
they used retail clinics had a household income of more than $50,000, while
only 16 percent had a household income of under $25,000.” Again, not a
big stretch...as higher earners are visiting stores more frequently.
As chain operators (Walgreen’s, CVS, Wal-mart, etc.)
continue to promote their in-store clinics and offer services attractive to
this income group (e.g.: camp physicals, weight loss programs), increased retail clinic visits is expected. >>Read more
