By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress management for healthcare workers
    3 Tips For Healthcare Professionals: How To Stay Beautiful, Healthy, and Happy
    November 2, 2021
    importance of relaxing on the weekend for your health
    Importance of Relaxing During the Weekend for Optimal Health
    March 25, 2022
    LASIK Eye Surgery
    What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
    May 16, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    New Study Challenges Current Notions of Breast Cancer Biopsy Abnormalities
    February 5, 2014
    Health Insurers are Feeling the Pressure of Looming PPACA
    August 30, 2012
    demographics bar graph
    Demographics of CDHP Enrollees
    May 8, 2014
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The Popularity of In-Store Medical Clinics
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > The Popularity of In-Store Medical Clinics
BusinessNewsPolicy & Law

The Popularity of In-Store Medical Clinics

Patti Doherty
Patti Doherty
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

We have followed the progress of Walgreens as the drugstore chain integrates health clinics into its stores as one example of what appears to be a growing trend throughout the drugstore industry. But it’s still not clear how these clinics will fit into the mix of healthcare offerings.

We have followed the progress of Walgreens as the drugstore chain integrates health clinics into its stores as one example of what appears to be a growing trend throughout the drugstore industry. But it’s still not clear how these clinics will fit into the mix of healthcare offerings.

Walgreens now has 356 in-store clinics, and other drugstore chains are more than catching up: CVS has about 588 CVS “MinuteClinics,” and Wal-Mart includes 143 clinics across some of its stores nationwide. The consulting firm Merchant Medicine estimates that there are almost 1,400 in-store health clinics in the United States.

Recently, National Public Radio and Truven Health Analytics conducted a poll of consumers, and found that:

More Read

The Flu Vaccine: Pros and Cons
Promising Malaria Vaccine
Thoughts on Geraldine Ferraro, and Myeloma
Google and ‘Rogue Pharmacy’ Ads Complaint
Time for Higher Income Seniors to Pay More for Medicare
  • Two-thirds of people would try an in-store clinic, while about half said they were aware of a clinic near them.
  • Eighty percent of people who tried a clinic were happy with the experience.
  • Most consumers went to a clinic to treat a cold or minor illness, or to receive an immunization.

Why are these clinics popular? The reasons could be a warning shot to physicians and other providers. Although most people who used the clinics also had “regular” doctors, the consumers reported that the clinics were cheaper, more accessible than a doctor’s office, and provided the “perceived” same quality care as that received from a physician.

While Rand Corp. and other studies found that clinics indeed are 80 percent cheaper than an emergency room and half the price of a doctor’s office visit, the clinics could cause headaches for doctors and patients:

  • Patients who try clinics are less likely to visit a doctor the next time they get sick. Since clinics don’t have patient records or a regularly scheduled provider, there’s no provider-patient relationship.
  • Clinics aren’t staffed by doctors—usually a nurse practitioner or physician assistant sees customers. Serious or chronic problems could easily be overlooked.
  • Consistency could become a problem—some in-store clinics could over-prescribe drugs, and in extreme cases, certain free-standing clinics were found to be “pill mills” in disguise, illegally selling narcotics and painkillers.

There’s no doubt that the consumer revolution in healthcare is demanding more access at a more reasonable cost, but are in-store clinics the solution? Right now, less than one percent of outpatient care is handled through such facilities. But as they grow, there will have to be a good, secure fit within the overall healthcare delivery system.

What do you think: Do in-store clinics have a rightful place in healthcare delivery? Or are they undermining physicians and other providers, and possibly putting patients at risk? What other solutions incorporate quality care, accessibility and low cost?

TAGGED:in-store clinics
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Image
BusinessPublic Health

Medication Sticker Shock

April 29, 2013

What is Your Health System’s Marketing Philosophy?

April 16, 2012

In Times of Change, HealthCare Leaders Turn to Internal Communications

February 20, 2013
pharma and social media ROI
BusinesseHealthFinanceSocial Media

The Three Letters That Kill Social Media in Pharma

December 3, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?