Can "Minute Clinic" Survive the Retail World?

The phenomena of in-store clinics appears to be gaining in popularity, but survival of the concept is questionable in the bottom-line world of retail. Mark D. Smith M.D., president and CEO of the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF), says the survival of in-store clinics isn't dependent on competing physicians; but coffee shops, banks and even vending machines--whatever is the most profitable use per square foot for the retailer that pose a threat. According to the CHCF, in-store clinics are staffed with physician assistants and nurse practitioners who provide only basic medical care for a limited number of conditions, and other medical concerns are referred to outside physicians. Prices are kept low, but clinics will only stay open if they can meet exacting profit targets of their leased spaces in retail outlets. So far, in-store clinics appeal to high-income consumers who will pay for convenience, or uninsured customers, who do not have a cheaper alternative or flexible work schedules that allow long emergency-room waits.