Advertisement
Today's announcement is the first step towards opening 400 co-brandedconvenient clinics by 2010 and further proof of Wal-Mart's commitment toproviding affordable, accessible solutions to America's healthcare challenges.Wal-Mart expects "The Clinic at Wal-Mart" to become synonymous with qualityhealthcare at affordable prices, provided by trusted, local providers.
Advertisement
Wal-Mart has signed a letter of intent to work with RediClinic, LLC andlocal hospital systems to open co-branded walk-in clinics in 200 Wal-MartSupercenters. Wal-Mart has also signed a letter of intent to partner directlywith St. Vincent Health System, a part of the Catholic Healthcare Initiativessystem, to open four co-branded clinics in Little Rock.
"We know that America's healthcare challenges are larger than any onecorporation, but we're committed to doing our part to expand access toquality, affordable healthcare -- our commitment to partnering with localhospital systems is evidence," said Dr. John Agwunobi, Wal-Mart's senior vicepresident and president, health and wellness. "Throughout our convenientclinics pilot, customers told us that we are providing a service that benefitstheir communities. We are confident that our new model of partnership withhospital systems will provide access to quality healthcare services for folkswho don't want to wait in a busy emergency room or can't get in to see theirphysician."
"The Clinic at Wal-Mart, owned and operated by St. Vincent Health System"is expected to open in Little Rock by the end of April, as will "The Clinic atWal-Mart owned and operated by RediClinic" in association with a localhospital system in Atlanta. By the summer of 2008, Wal-Mart also expects toopen co-branded clinics with RediClinic and a local hospital system in Dallas.
"Our vision of the future is to transform healthcare for our community,"said Peter Banko, St. Vincent Health System's president and chief executiveofficer. "We work every day towards that vision and the clinics that we willoperate in Wal-Mart Supercenters will be a great solution for patients whocome to us for health and healing."
"Wal-Mart Supercenters are a great venue for RediClinic and its healthcaresystem partners because there are millions of customers in these stores everyday who need easier access to the high quality, affordable healthcare that weprovide," said Web Golinkin, chief executive officer of RediClinic, LLC.
The Clinics at Wal-Mart will offer a limited set of affordably-priced GetWell and Stay Well services. Each clinic will operate seven days a week andfeature a consistent, innovative design. They will also feature prominentsignage in keeping with Wal-Mart's price transparency promise -- a key aspectthat requires operators to post pricing for the services and treatmentsoffered so patients know what their costs will be up front.
With data showing that 55 percent of its in-store clinic patients areuninsured, Wal-Mart is committed to enhancing the efficiency and effectivenessof our health care system by working with operators who provide a specific setof services to adults and children over age two, including:
To further increase the affordability of their services, The Clinics atWal-Mart operated by both RediClinic and St. Vincent plan to accept healthinsurance plans including Aetna, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield and others.
For more information on Wal-Mart's convenient clinic initiative and TheClinics at Wal-Mart, visit http://www.walmart.com/clinics.
About Wal-Mart Stores,
