Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 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 Thursday 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.
Wal-Mart has signed a letter of intent to work with local hospital systems and RediClinic to open cobranded walk-in clinics in 200 Wal-Mart Supercenters.
Wal-Mart has also signed a letter of intent to partner directly with St. Vincent Health System, a part of the Catholic Healthcare Initiatives system, to open four cobranded clinics in Little Rock.
Co-branding means the clinics will jointly bear the names of Wal-Mart and its partners and have an identical look and record keeping system, Wal-Mart spokeswoman Deisha Galberth said.
Having the local hospital system involved will also increase the level of trust among shoppers, Galberth said.
1 comment:
Do you think that it will be successful or fall like many others that have attempted this business model? An interesting post that portrays this is here: http://www.mikesviewpoint.com/healthcare-journal/2008/1/30/retail-clinics-unable-to-pay-salaries-closed-shop.html
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