Retail clinics slowly gain traction

ONLY 5 PERCENT of U.S. consumers visited a retail-based health clinic in 2007 – a 2 percent increase from 2006 – but the clinics are expected to continue to increase their “foothold” in the market since patient visits are driving higher retail sales, according to a recent Forrester research report.

According to the report “Retail health clinics increase foothold and influence purchasing,” 64 percent of consumers purchased a prescription drug and 27 percent bought an over-the-counter medication, as well as other secondary purchases like food, household items, electronics and beauty products, in conjunction with a visit to a retail health clinic.

The question of what consumers are purchasing in combination with their visits is big, said Julie Snyder, a Forrester analyst.

“This could give clout to pharmacies to have this type of clinic with their store,” she said. “We will continue to watch this behavior.”

Those who visit retail clinics are more likely to take prescriptions than the average consumer (64 percent vs. 55 percent), according to the report, because they purchase the drugs at the same time of the visit.

Based on the Forrester data, the primary reasons why consumers visit retail-based health clinics are for convenience and cost – few consumers said they visit clinics primarily because of their quality.

Retail clinics won’t replace regular doctors or become the new way to get healthcare, said Snyder, but they are gaining traction with insurance companies. Three quarters of retail clinic visits are covered by insurance, according to reports.

Location also affects retail health clinic visits, the report said. Nearly half of consumers visiting retail-based health clinics in 2007 are from the South. The Northeast shows the lowest number of visits, at 11 percent.

Minute Clinic plans to open 100 more locations in Massachusetts over the next five years, according to Snyder. She doesn’t anticipate the push from retail clinics to end; they won’t flock, but a steady growth rate is expected.

“We’ve already seen some clinics shutter, but we’ll be keeping a close eye on partnerships between providers and retail stores,” she said.

Retail clinics could show up in local grocery stores, and some retail clinics are expected to work with Walmart to replace check-up clinics as well. Relationships with local hospitals are also good to watch, Snyder said. “It could be a compelling combination,” she said.