Healthcare Providers Must Get Creative And Co-Create With Big Box Retailers.

Walmart’s health centers are coming to Florida to focus on affordable and accessible care for the community in the Jacksonville area. They are the largest private-sector employer, and the largest grocer in the U.S. Now Walmart is looking to become a healthcare organization.

The health clinic will offer full-service primary and urgent care, labs, x-ray and diagnostics, counseling, dental, optical and hearing services in the same vicinity or adjacent to the retail shop. The fee schedule will be $30 for an adult annual checkup, and a strep test costs $20. A dental exam is $25, including X-rays. These price points will be hard for Walmart to make a margin, while hospitals will be unable to match Walmart’s prices.

CVS and Walgreens will also provide similar healthcare service offerings in various states at their retail locations. Many traditional healthcare provider organizations have been building additional expensive brick and mortar sites to compete. Instead, health systems should explore creative options.

New Partnership Model

Health systems must reevaluate their strategic partners and view big retail chains as an opportunity for a partnership. Population health management is a top strategic goal for hospitals. Partnering with a retailer…