Wal-Mart to Offer Instore Health Clinics (USA)

[ken0042]

I thought I had read something about this before, but didn't see it here.

Wal-Mart Stores will open its first in-store medical clinics under its own brand name after leasing space in dozens of stores to outside companies that operate the quick-service health stops.

The world's largest retailer said last week it will open The Clinic at Wal-Mart as a joint venture with local hospital systems in Atlanta, Dallas and Little Rock, Ark., starting in April.


Further down in the article it mentions these clinics being staffed by nurses and doctor's assitants to handle things like sprains, colds, sore throats, etc. What do you guys think- good idea that will help ease the burden on crowded ERs and Walkin clinics? Or setting themselves up for malpractice claims?

[notoepik]

I hope they have a large herd of litigation attorneys on retainer.

[Locke]

How does this fit in with their business model? Cut-rate medical work?

So now instead of just regular staff they have to import Doctors from Mexico now too?

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Locke

How does this fit in with their business model? Cut-rate medical work?

Doctor: Haaaaaai everybody!
Crowd: Hi Docter Nick!

[Thunderball]

as scary as this sounds... I'd still trust them more than the walk-in doctors at the local medicentres...

[blankall]

After spending 8 hours in an emergency room with blood pouring out of my head while everyone with any kind of cold or flu was in front of me, I would say any measure to alleviate ERs is a good measure. I am assuming there will be quality checks by independent sources and that doctors will be following their proper moral codes and not pushing drugs on patients to increase sales. Like previous posters have said the quality really can't be much worse than at the medicentre.


All in all, private clinics are already available so I don't see how this is a huge deal. Basically the only major negative is that it might cut out small pharmacists from the market. For me, however, the major concern is the health care system as a whole. If this can provide any form of efficiency I say go ahead.