Clinics had long existed in Wal-Mart stores operated by independent medical practitioners in leased spaces. Clinics in shopping malls have gained popularity over the years with 7 percent of Americans having tried the services of such outlets, the Convenient Care Association said.
With Wal-Mart's lead to package medical services while people are shopping, other chains like CVS Corporation, Target Corporation and Walgreen Company are expected to tie-up with small medical service providers such as RediClinic and MinuteClinic. The CCA estimates that by December the number of in-store clinic would almost double to 1,500 from only 800 in November.
There are 77 existing clinics in different Wal-Mart locations run by tenants. The number excludes 23 in Florida and 3 in other Southern states, outlets of CheckUps which recently closed. Wal-Mart plans to initially open in-store clinics in 200 Supercenters in a cobranding arrangement with local medical institutions.
The world's largest retail chain said it intends to bring up the number of in-store clinics to 400 by 2010. The cobranding arrangement is expected to benefit both Wal-Mart and the local hospital systems.
Patricia Edwards, retail analyst of Wentworth Hauser and Violich, explained, "Especially among middle- and upper-income shoppers, it becomes more like stopping in at any location of their group health care provider. It doesn't have that connotation of going cheap." The Wal-Mart stamp on the clinics will reinforce the chain's efforts to up its public role in health care amid criticism from unions that it has a tight budget on employee health care.
Aside from health services, Wal-Mart introduced $4 generic medicine and promoting the use of electronic health records in lieu of paper files to cut on medical bills.
