Wal-Mart Expands into Healthcare
For all the Wal-Mart lovers, they are getting into the healthcare business beginning in April in Atlanta, Dallas, and Little Rock.
They plan to increase the number to 400 co-branded, in-store medical clinics by 2010.
Wal-Mart is working with a company called RediClinic who has been a leader in the retail-clinic business.
The new clinics will all operate on a common electronic health records platform and plan to work cooperatively with local hospitals.
This may be another opportunity for our local hospitals to partner with Wal-Mart’s in the area to provide some after hour care.
Wal-Mart wins because they have in-house pharmacies and you can always buy something at Wal-Mart.
They plan to increase the number to 400 co-branded, in-store medical clinics by 2010.
Wal-Mart is working with a company called RediClinic who has been a leader in the retail-clinic business.
The new clinics will all operate on a common electronic health records platform and plan to work cooperatively with local hospitals.
This may be another opportunity for our local hospitals to partner with Wal-Mart’s in the area to provide some after hour care.
Wal-Mart wins because they have in-house pharmacies and you can always buy something at Wal-Mart.
Labels: healthcare, Wal-mart
posted by Anonymous at 5:57 AM
2 Comments:
Walmart for healthcare? I think I would rather take my chances and wait for the Doctors offices to open the following morning!
Of course, walmart is probably no worse than Floyd Memorials ER, or for that fact the ignorance so commonly displayed by the billing department at Floyd who can not even figure out how to bill the hospitals own MAP cards!
Attention WalMart Shoppers, the Doc-in-the-Big-Box will see you now!
Like Anonymous 7:50, I'm a bit short on confidence. But are some positives. It will probably be cheaper than an ER or a doctor's office, with all those medical supplies imported from China, and that lack of hospital and office overhead, and no uncompensated or charity care. And the wait may be shorter, since they'll probably want cash up front. And you won't be complaining about your 6-week old cough or your baby's week-old diaper rash being bumped back in line by those stupid motor vehicle accident and heart attack victims. What a great place for those who don't have a doctor, don't want one and are willing to pay for service. Like Anonymous 7:50, I'll wait for the doctor's office to open in the morning, or if it's bad enough, I'll go to Floyd's ER.
Here's where we part company, Anonymous 7:50: I've lived and worked all over the country in cities large and small, and received services in 15 or 20 different hospitals, ranging from major tertiary care facilities to small community hospitals. In addition, I have observed the care in at least 25 other hospitals over the last 30 years. I'll put Floyd Memorial up against any of them for quality and service.
That's based on my experience. My family and I have been treated or received diagnostic services from Floyd at least 15 times over the last 7 years. While that's not a significant sample size, it's been more than enough for me. My family and I have been treated in the ER and received outpatient diagnostic services repeatedly. I have had 2 outpatient GI procedures and a major surgery.
I have consistently been impressed with the competence of the ER physicians and staff, and hospital staff throughout. I have been amazed at the almost compulsive adherence to safety and quality protocols, their organization, and their overall caring and kindness. My services have been delivered on time when I had an appointment, or immediately or within brief wait times when I was a "walk in". My bills have always been accurate, and when I had questions, the first person I called was fully capable of answering my questions.
I know Floyd has its problems, but most of it has to do with conflicts of ego among some of the medical staff, management and the governing body. Welcome to health care. As a patient, what more could you ask for?
If you need a point of comparison, next time you need treatment, go across the river where you get entire units staffed with agency nurses, spend 15 minutes looking for parking and then walk another 20 minutes to your service area, and bring home exotic infections to boot. Better yet, go to U of L's ER, but you'd better pack your lunch, and dinner too.
Good luck!
Peter Feimer
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