In-Store Clinic Growth Continues

He might have his own solo practice -- or he might be managing a clinic unit for a big retailer near you.

The Convenient Care Association (CCA) estimates the number of health clinics located inside retail stores has increased 12 percent in the past year, to 1,800.

Tine Hansen-Turton, executive director of the CCA, wrote in a year-end update that the association’s membership has grown along with the retail clinic industry.

The long list of CCA executive members includes the clinic units at Walgreens, CVS, Target, Rite Aid, HCA, Geisinger Health System, and Walmart.

The corporate members include many drug, medical supply and practice services companies, including Sanofi, Bayer, Pfizer, and Athenahealth.

Many of the retail clinics have affiliations with big, well-known health care systems, Hansen-Turton says.

She notes that the CVS MinuteClinic chain, for example, has the UCLA Health System, Robert Wood Johnson, and the Emory Healthcare system on its affiliations list.

In addition to providing vaccinations, checkups and tonsil checks, some of the clinics are providing care for people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

In the policy arena, CCA has been working on guidelines for the use of tele-health services in retail clinics and monitoring state laws and regulations that affect the scope of practice of nurse practitioners and physician assistants.