More Retail Clinics Opening

The number of retail clinics is increasing nationwide, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Mary Kate Scott, author of a report on retail clinics released by the California HealthCare Foundation, said that there were 253 retail clinics as of December 2006, up from 60 in January 2006. The report anticipates thousands of retail clinics operating by 2008.

Some experts say that retail clinics have emerged more slowly in California partly because of relatively high real estate costs and salaries for physicians, nurse practitioners and other personnel.

Companies operating retail clinics in the state include QuickHealth and Sutter Health (Chandler, San Jose Mercury News, 1/6).

QuickHealth on Dec. 26, 2006, opened a clinic at a Wal-Mart in Dinuba, the company's sixth in California. CEO Dave Mandelkern said QuickHealth plans to open four or five additional clinics in the Fresno area in 2007 (Correa, Fresno Bee, 1/6).

Sutter Health is opening six clinics in Rite Aid stories in the Sacramento area.

WellnessExpress Healthcare closed its three retail clinics in November 2006, but company founder and President Paul Kaufmann said the company hopes to reorganize and open additional retail clinics (San Jose Mercury News, 1/6).

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