Wal-Mart has tested 75 in-store clinics in 12 states and it has all the information it needs to make an informed decision on what it will do next, according to Reuters.
Alicia Ledlie, senior director for Wal-Mart's health business development, said the information has led the chain to determine it needs to speed up the rate in which clinics open in its stores.
Ms. Ledlie said Wal-Mart is not the only one on to the in-store clinic opportunity. She told attendees at Healthcare Retail '07 in Orlando that Wal-Mart projects there will be more than 6,600 clinics operating in various retailers' stores within the next five years.
Wal-Mart, said Ms. Ledlie, is considering providing in-store clinics with automated systems to allow medical records to follow consumers as they use facilities in different stores. She said she saw an opportunity to develop a universal record system that could be used for all in-store clinics and not just those located inside a Wal-Mart or Sam's Club.
Discussion Questions: How will Wal-Mart's clear intention to accelerate in-store clinic openings affect what others do? Do you see reasons why others should or should not play follow-the-Wal-Mart-leader in the in-store clinic space? Do you believe any particular trade channel or store format type stands to benefit the most from having medical clinics on the premises?