business
Retail clinic use more than doubles in 6 years
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 17, 2012
The percentage of people using retail clinics grew from 10% in 2006 to 21.3% in 2012, according to a survey of 2,000 adults issued Nov. 26 by Kalorama Information, a medical market research company based in New York.
Researchers say the increase is being driven by a rise in the number of retail clinics and greater awareness of the facilities.
Several studies have found that patients who live near retail clinics are more likely to use them. According to Merchant Medicine, a retail medicine consultancy based in Shoreview, Minn., 1,420 retail clinics operated in 39 states as of early December. In October 2006, there were 202 such clinics across the country.
“In places like Atlanta, Phoenix, Minneapolis and Chicago, there is greater competition and awareness of retail clinics because companies have made investments there,” said Bruce Carlson, Kalorama’s publisher. “In other cities, respondents right now will say that they have not been to a clinic because there isn’t one close to them.”
