Primary Care Goes Retail
Posted April 21st, 2009 by Rick CrevelingPrimary CareHave you noticed the in-store medical services popping up at local drug stores? Walgreens and CVS are placing nurse practitioners in their stores to offer walk-in care to their patients. Services like flu shots, cold and flu treatment and routine physicals are being offered near the pharmacy counter. A few weeks ago it was announced the Wal*Mart is entering the walk-in care arena. Soon, customers can literally stop in to their local mega store for everything from groceries, clothing, tires and healthcare services. Is this progress? Does this mean that healthcare has become a commodity? Obviously the retail gods feel that primary care medicine has great profit potential. What do today’s primary care physicians need to do to thrive when they have to compete with these new players?
Tags: Primary care, Retail medicine, walk-in medicine
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