Clinic at Walmart to open in Republic

Today, Walmart and CoxHealth announced a second location of “The Clinic at Walmart” operated by CoxHealth, to be located in the Republic Walmart supercenter, 1150 US Hwy. 60 East. This convenient care clinic will open Monday, May 4. The location will offer the same fast, affordable access to basic health care services available at the Springfield location – check-ups, immunizations, screenings, treatment of minor injuries and more.

“We’ve seen a great demand for services at our South Campbell location. In the first month of operation, we treated nearly 600 patients, from 76 different zip codes and 8 different states,” says Tom Luthy, administrative director of CoxHealth Regional Services. “We know the need for the type of affordable, accessible care offered by these clinics extends beyond Springfield, and we are excited to meet those needs by opening this clinic in Republic and others in the coming months.”

Many of the patients seen at the clinic in Springfield have been sick enough to need care, but not necessarily ill enough to warrant a visit to the emergency department or urgent care clinic. A visit to “The Clinic at Walmart” operated by CoxHealth, however, serves as an option for many who might otherwise postpone or avoid care. Luthy says the patients he’s spoken with are grateful for the retail clinic option and appreciate the upfront pricing.

“This is really the right time for this – it’s meeting a need we didn’t know was as big as it is,” says Luthy. “We’re seeing people who might have no insurance or who can’t afford other options. It’s not the convenience; it’s the access and affordability that people really need. Bringing this model beyond Springfield will greatly increase the number of people we’re able to serve.”

The clinics offer prompt access to affordably priced acute and preventive care for common health ailments treatable without urgent or emergency care, including sore throats, sinus infections, upper respiratory infections, earaches, bladder infections, insect bites and stings, cholesterol screening, blood sugar testing, vaccinations, drug screening and routine physicals. They are open for walk-in service seven days a week, including nights and weekends. Walmart has 32 in-store clinics in eight states.

For further information about “The Clinic at Walmart”, please visit www.walmart.com/clinics. For more information about CoxHealth, please visit www.coxhealth.com

Walmart clinic expands care options

This month, CoxHealth is partnering with the nation’s largest retailer to offer a new level of accessibility and convenience with the opening of The Clinic at Walmart.

The retail clinic opened March 2 in the Walmart Supercenter located at 3315 S. Campbell in Springfield. The clinic, which is Walmart’s first in-store clinic in Missouri, is staffed by a nurse practitioner and specializes in fast, affordable access to basic health care for immediate, mild conditions, including sore throats, sinus infections, upper respiratory infections, earaches and bladder infections. No appointments are necessary and evening and weekend hours will allow added flexibility and access to care.

“By joining with Wal-Mart to operate The Clinic at Walmart, CoxHealth is one step closer to ensuring the health and wellness of our community,” says CoxHealth CEO Robert Bezanson. “Our Joint Commission accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest-quality care. Our clinic is staffed with licensed health care providers for extended hours – including weekends – so families can receive care without a long wait. We hope the clinic will also help ease the burden on our emergency rooms, by providing people with minor illnesses and ailments with another convenient, reliable treatment option.”

Cox officials say the clinic is key to expanding health care access in the Springfield area and changing the way care is delivered. The location inside Walmart will allow busy families to make a quick stop with no appointment and receive care without scheduling a doctor’s appointment or taking time off from work.

“It’s a very progressive idea and the clinic will be a point of access for our system that will offer convenience and affordability,” says Dr. Kerry Randolph, medical director of Regional Services. “The delivery of health care is in transition and we have to look at novel ways to get care to the public.”

Leaders at Cox also say the time is right for a retail clinic, especially given the economic environment. By providing a way to access treatment inside a popular retailer like Walmart, the clinic brings affordable care directly to those who need it.

“In times like this when the economy is struggling, people are having a harder time accessing care,” says Steve Edwards, CoxHealth’s senior vice president. “The new clinic is very affordable and most importantly it’s going to help us further our mission at a time when we’re worried about people accessing care. I’m excited about it – I was excited about it years ago when we started planning, but now there’s a profound calling to do this.”

The addition of the clinic also presents a new way for CoxHealth to reach new patients and be positioned for future growth.

“While it’s important to watch our spending, it’s still key to grow new business and be poised to increase market share when the economy rebounds,” Edwards says. “We’re holding off on some important positions elsewhere in the system and people may wonder why we’re going ahead with projects like the clinic. The answer is: because of growth. And this is growth that’s consistent with our mission.”

Plans for the clinic have been under way for the last few years, since Cox submitted its first proposal in December 2006.

“This has been three years in the making,” says David Taylor, vice president of Regional Services. “We’re excited it’s here and ideally we could see growing this throughout the region.”

Wal-Mart has 28 in-store clinics in seven states and officials say partnering with an organization like Cox has substantial benefits for everyone involved.

“Because CoxHealth is a well known and respected health care provider in the community, our customers will benefit from the convenience of prompt, professional care from an organization that they know and trust,” says Alicia Ledlie, Wal-Mart’s senior director of health business development.

“What a time to be a partner with Wal-Mart,” Edwards says. “When retailers across the country are seeing drops in business, Wal-Mart’s customers are turning to them now more than ever because Walmart has a very good value proposition. They offer high quality products at an affordable price and it’s a great partnership for us.”

Note: The term “Wal-Mart” refers to the corporate entity. “Walmart” refers to the brand name of the company’s U.S. operations. - ed.