hospital impact
Post details: A second look at retail clinics
A second look at retail clinics
by Tony Chen
Previously I joined with others in predicting that the number of retail clinics will be in the thousands in 18 months or so. Consumerism is too strong of a force. Simple, quick, convenient healthcare is way too compelling to pass up. I'm still a believer.
But, let's not forget that it's still a retail business and is ruled by the laws of retail business models - location, location, location.
Case in point: Take Care is in the process of closing down all 10 of their clinics in Portland. I might be reading between the lines here, but it seems like they didn't want to pilot there to begin with, but their partners at Rite Aid convinced them. Portland is a good-sized 2nd-tier American city. The only problem is that people are really healthy there and have good access to doctors already.
One more thing to consider - Target decided to part ways with MinuteClinic even after a great 2.5 year partnership. MinuteClinic was quickly bought up by CVS. Again, read through the link here, I may be reading between the lines too much. It sounds to me that Target's not fully bought into the concept yet - it's still in pilot stage. Did MinuteClinic really want to grow faster than Target was comfortable with?
So, to recap:
- money is still POURING into retail clinics
- hundreds of clinics will be opening within the next 6-12 months
- it smells like a landgrab situation, with lots of clinic operators partnering with national big-box retailers
- Like any retail business, location, location, location still applies
In the 1980s, every hotel trying to just stay in the game had to have a pool (and now in 2006, every decent hotel has to have a spa). Same situation here? Any retailer worth anything will have to have a little health clinic? You live down the street from Target and Wal-Mart. One has one, the other doesn't? Is that enough to change your mind?
For me, definitely, if I need something there.
So if the retail clinic is like the hotel pool of the 1980s, what is like the hotel spa? In 2010, once most retailers have a clinic, how will they continue to differentiate their stores? "Today, we are offering a $100 winterization treatment, which includes your flu shot, a 15-minute massage, the new designer scarf, a hot chocolate at our in-store cafe, and a discount on this family package of cold medicines."
Comments:
Actually, futurists have predicted that fewer people will go to a "Rite Aid" first and try an over the counter solution before they go to a clinic. Now we have the "Whole Foods" solution where a cordial person with some education can advise someone on what over the counter treatment might work.
Portland has a high density of LOHAS consumers (lifestyle of the health and sustainable) that can be assumed based on their wide spread environmental practices and density of organic farming.
It's an interesting dichitomy to think about and then translate into thinking about consumer need of hospitals.
I would love to hear from people outside major cities dominated by teaching hospitals to learn more about how they see the role of the community hospital and how the growing size of LOHAS consumers will influence community changes.
There is a growing system of thought now appearing in Boston with Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Decision to raise $350m in philanthropy to devise community programs while its competitors at Brigham and Women's (Partners) keep raising money to grow more buildings.
I don't think we have tackled the ambivalence we have in the US to look at redefining the use of a hospital bed. I believe Dr. Bill Thomas with his efforts supported by the Heinz Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson F oundation is going to push the envelope on this with the building of Green Houses for the baby boomers that keep them active and out of nursing homes. It maybe this growing initiative of cullturea and change will push the hospitals to rethink the shape and substance of their building strategies into community centers of care.
One group (I believe) in Louisianna already tore down nursing home beds and replaced Green Houses on its propertis. Good food for thought, here.
I am now playing with more ideas to teach with on how philanthropy can change the face of health care and help leverage today's hospital worker into a facilitator of healthy communities.
Best to all,
Lavinia
10/04/06 @ 11:50
10/04/06 @ 12:49 Certainly convenience (location) and trust will play key roles. I hope it flies - I would certainly like to take advantage of the convenience when the need exists.
10/05/06 @ 19:23
10/06/06 @ 11:23
10/06/06 @ 12:12 Combine EMR with telemedicine and algorythm-based care models and suddenly the local MD isn't as much the keeper of all knowledge.
The key is, don't bet on things staying the same as they are now. Consumers will demand lower cost and better access, and as soon as they realize that technology can enable this they'll demand the current system (which has not really changed, ever) be marginalized.
The model isn't there yet, but it's getting much, much closer.
12/14/06 @ 23:34
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04/15/08 @ 15:28 http://www.drugrehabscenters.com/
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06/04/08 @ 11:24 http://www.drugrehabscenters.com/
06/28/08 @ 05:45 Leave a comment:
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