Trending up – that’s what a late 2012 survey report revealed about the use of retail clinics (generally located in drug stores and staffed by nurse practitioners or physican's assistants). Not a surprise... that the survey publisher attributes the rise in use to convenience of appointment-free services, expanded hours compared to the average physician office and lower costs. The survey from healthcare market research publisher, Kalorama Information, reported that 21.3% of US adults have visited a retail clinic - up from 10% in 2006. Now, Kalorama reports that retail clinics are favored more by higher earning households. A survey of 2000 adults revealed that “59% of survey participants who said they used retail clinics had a household income of more than $50,000, while only 16 percent had a household income of under $25,000.” Again, not a big stretch...as higher earners are visiting stores more frequently.
As chain operators (Walgreen’s, CVS, Wal-mart, etc.) continue to promote their in-store clinics and offer services attractive to this income group (e.g.: camp physicals, weight loss programs), increased retail clinic visits is expected. >>Read more
