This article at the Wall Street Journal caught my eye:
With catchy slogans like “You’re Sick! We’re Quick!” retail health clinics are spreading fast in supermarkets, drugstores and big-box chains across the country, luring patients with walk-in treatment for minor ailments like strep throat — at about half the cost of a typical doctor visit.
The phenomenon has been largely driven by small start-up chains, such as MinuteClinic, RediClinic and Take Care Health Systems, which run the outlets under agreement with retailers and have had few formal ties to the medical establishment.[.]
Staffed mainly by nurse practitioners who are licensed to treat a wide range of minor illnesses and prescribe medications, retail clinics have grown rapidly over the past five years as retailers, including CVS, Kroger, Wal-Mart Stores and Walgreen, have signed up with more than a half-dozen clinic operators.
Interesting idea, although I’m not too sure about the idea of going to Wal-Mart to get medical care. However, if it helps slow medical inflation. Shame that it probably won’t do anything about how long it takes to get an appointment at some specialists.