The Supermarket Health Clinic

Faced with chronically overcrowded emergency rooms (often filled with patients unable to pay), hospitals across the country are partnering with supermarkets, shopping malls, and drugstores to open walk-in clinics. Patients get access to physicians, as well as “back-up” hospital services (like lab testing). And they have to pay before being seen – either with cash or insurance.

Hospitals like the arrangement. Not only do they cut down on emergency room visits and get paid up front, they establish relationships with patients that can lead to future (and more lucrative) business.

Patients like it because they can get a side salad with their flu shot.

(Source: New York Times)

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