rx 1500 market based retail health

Rx:1,500 Market-based Retail Health Clinics in 2008

ASSOCIATED PRESS--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" (pictured above) as a joint venture with local hospital

systems in Atlanta, Dallas and Little Rock, Ark., starting in April.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart is among several U.S. supermarket and

drug store chains that in the past couple of years have begun opening

store-based health clinics, which are staffed mostly by nurse

practitioners or physician assistants and offer quick service for

routine conditions from colds and bladder infections to sunburn.

About 7% of Americans have tried a clinic at least once, and that

number is expected to increase dramatically, as chains like Wal-Mart,

CVS Corp., Target Corp. and Walgreen Co. partner with mini-clinic

providers like RediClinic and MinuteClinic to expand operations. The

trade group estimates there will be more than 1,500 by year-end, up

from about 800 in November.

From Wal-Mart's press release: Today's announcement is the first step

towards opening 400 co-branded convenient clinics by 2010 and further

proof of Wal-Mart's commitment to providing affordable, accessible

solutions to America's healthcare challenges. Wal-Mart expects "The

Clinic at Wal-Mart" to become synonymous with quality healthcare at

affordable prices, provided by trusted, local providers.