Calling Dr. Walmart…

The world's largest retailer wants to be your doctor too.

Walmart is stepping up its healthcare game with a leap into primary care.  This is a bold move following limited success with its retail health clinics (opened 260; closed 166*).  CVS and until last year, Walgreens, have been careful not to overstep into primary care - thus, minimizing the ire of local doctors.  Contrary to that, Walmart's intention is for new clinics in South Carolina and Texas to act as a primary care provider.  Given Walmart's geo footprint, their primary care concept may play out well as rural areas are traditionally underserved by primary care providers.

Expansion will continue by Walmart, as well as CVS and Walgreens.  At stake, a greater slice of the Obamacare pie…or, is it goodwill they're after?  >>Read more

Weigh in…would you call on Dr. Walmart?  

*Merchant Medicine

Retail Clinics Popular with High Earners

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