Health clinics flourish as Americans rush for treatment

Everyone's busy these days, so if you could do your shopping and get your health checkup at the same place, you might think about using one of the health clinics that has appeared recently in your local retail department store, mall or pharmacy chain. Long waits in doctors' offices or emergency rooms have left some patients frustrated and looking for another option. Kalorama Information, a market research firm, says these clinics numbered about 1,200 in 2008 with annual revenue of $545 million, But by 2013, it estimates the number of clinics will double, with revenue of about $2 billion. Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS and Rite-Aid are some of the retailers currently operating in-store health clinics, according to CNN.com. If the clinic trend continues in stores, it could redefine the market for primary care. The current attraction of these in-store health clinics is that they boast shorter wait times -- 15 minutes --and lower costs compared with the typical doctor's office. A passing fad or a new trend?...only time will tell.