Published on September 3, 2010 at 1:40 AM
Chicago Tribune: "Target Corp., renewing its push into retail medicine, will open eight new clinics in the Chicago area and Palm Beach, Fla., giving a boost to a form of health care delivery that has seen slower growth amid the economic downturn. The Minneapolis-based retail giant launched its first health clinic four years ago but has not been as aggressive as rivals CVS/Caremark Corp. and Walgreen Co., which have opened several hundred clinics in recent years. ... [Clinics] treat patients for routine illnesses and injuries such as ear and sinus infections, skin treatments and certain vaccinations. The model has been greeted by health insurers, employers and consumer groups as a convenient way to address the rising cost of health care. Retail clinics, which are generally staffed by nurse practitioners, typically are less expensive than a trip to a physician's office, which can cost an employer or insurer $100 or more" (Japsen, 9/1).