I don't see anything about sprains or back pain from picking peanuts.

The way I see it, more competition and easier accessibility to medical services is a good thing, even if I'm not a big fan of the Wal-Mart experience.

Although Target has had clinics in Maryland for a couple years, so the idea of a big-box store with a clinic isn't that weird to me.

It amazes me that tin this day and age people still go to the doctor for a cold.

The only issue I see is that walmart's method of operation is to offer the lowest price by pushing suppliers to sell for less, often time forcing a cut in quality - hopefully the doctors and nurses will be ethical enough to follow all proper rules and procedures for these services.

Other than that, I know that my doctor billed my insurance over $125 for my last phyiscal, so $80 seems pretty good if you don't have insurance.

I don't know if the get well services are worth it for some of them - common cold, upset stomach, allergies? What are they going to do - tell you to go to aisle 5 and pick up some Allegra?

WRJ

Walgreens Take-Care clinics have something similar, although the price list is generally on a sheet of paper or a small sign or -- most typically -- on the sign-in computer where you sign up.

I gotta say, I've been to the Take-Care twice now -- flu shot and a dire ear infection -- and I think it's awesomeburgers. I love my GP and I have insurance, but the Take-Care is just so convenient and fast. I could even walk if I had to, although it's a bit of a hike. (Also, my insurance covers treatment at the Take-Care.) And it's nice to be able to get my Rx at the same place as I got the exam, and pick up sick-person food and trashy magazines at the same time.

I'm guessing the list of symptoms is a way to let the people know what kind of services they offer, so people know what they can come in for and also to price compare. Just don't bring a pen and a copy of that image into your Dr.'s office. They'll make you leave it in the car or leave the office. ;)

Encouraging comparison shopping between accredited individuals offering the same highly regulated service is never a bad thing.

@madanthony: I agree. Actually, these prices are really quite reasonable. If I was stuck in the situation of not having insurance, I would definitely go to a clinic like this. Prices for a simple visit with a doctor or nurse practitioner at typical "urgent care" centers are two to three times as much!

Where's the "I have insurance and I'm happy about it" option? Anything that helps folks get the treatment they need at a truly affordable price (versus affordable deductible) is really a great thing.

More competition isn't going to hurt the medical field, and if they're staffing this thing with RNs and NPs rather than full-on MDs, more power to them. The idea that I need a _doctor_ to tell me I have a cold or the flu or whatever seems silly.

@wchamilton: That I don't understand. When I was lying on my couch last week and I could no longer smell anything since my nose was so stuffed up, I knew I had a cold. I took my meds, slept a lot, and that was it. There's no reason to go to the doctor to treat a cold unless you have underlying medical conditions, you are prone to more serious illnesses or are recovering from another illness and are afraid of resurgence (sometimes colds can exacerbate bronchitis), or you fear it is something else entirely (like swine flu).

They already did this in several locations here in Richmond. It failed.

I'm all for it. And that survey is ridiculous. Where's my option for "awesomeburgers" as Eyebrows stated? Your awesomeburgerlessness makes the baby Jesus cry.

i can't wait for some pregnant lady to get arrested for a receipt check coming out of there... yay walmart! you go get those criminals!

@Erwos: I agree. Maybe is affordable healthcare was available to people without insurance, they would stop calling 911 for everything. I happen to have good insurance (as long as I remain a full-time student) with a $35 deductible for "urgent care" so I really don't care about Walmart's offerings, but I am sure that it can help many people.

I don't have health insurance and I am happy about this.. The more companies that offer this kind of care means that I have more choice in where I can go when I get sick, and this is a great thing.

@shepd: Well, and not only that but if they advertise reasonable prices then maybe people without insurance might consider seeking help when they're sick. After seeing people camp out for free dental care like most of us would camp out for a new game console my outlook on health care has changed. It's staggering how much people will endure (sickness-wise, pain-wise, etc) because they're too afraid of how expensive it will be to treat.

@Groovymarlin: agreed - these prices are pretty good and aren't much more than a copay when I ALSO pay per paycheck and I don't often (ever) get sick.

@wrjohnston91283: The clinics at Wal-Mart and other places are basically leased spaces...Walmart has some influence over them, but they are pretty much run independently (like the vision centers, hair cut places, and things like that they shove in Walmart).

@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): I almost went to one last week. I had a cold for a few days, and then bam - I had a 101 degree fever, and it was the weekend. Since doctors' offices weren't open, I took a ton of meds to lower the fever and we made plans to go to the Walgreens or CVS clinic if it didn't lower by the next morning.

I like that they tell you up front how much it will be. when i go to the doctor I have insurance, but they are never clear and forthcoming that "Your checkup is $500. Your insurance will be billed $480 and your copay is $20." I like knowing up front what my treatment will cost.

@VooDoo288: Any more info?

@VooDoo288: Richmond, VA? Do you know why they failed? I can see how a service like this wouldn't get a ton of business, but I can't necessarily see how it would fail - the prices are cheaper than most doctors, and if you have no insurance you can't go to the doctor anyway. And doctors don't keep weekend hours.

Ear Wax removal for $70?!?! Jeez!

I have no idea why anyone would find this objectionable. Transparency is a good thing. The seems basically the same as the MinuteClinic service that is available in certain CVSs, and they also have their price lists clearly visible. You not only know what it's going to cost, you know what services are available.

Shucks. I guess we can rescind the Health Reform bill now, since Wal-Mart has sailed in to the rescue!

@Erwos: Considering how a like a few thousand people recently flocked to a 1-day free clinic in Houston, this would probably be a good thing.

Meet your Walmart Clinic Physician:

Hi, everybody!

Why don't they list gastrointestinal bypass surgery? You'd think that they'd do BOFFO volume in that business.

@barb95: I didn't even see that! Wow, that's expensive. I mean, most people can just buy the $8 medication and be done with it, but I guess water and plastic squirty tubes are expensive!

@moore850: To be fair, they'll probably think she was trying to smuggle a beach ball from those big ball bins they have all over the stores.

I'm all for these sorts of clinics. I have insurance, but a really high deductible beyond my annual physical and some basic care. If it was something that I knew that I basically just needed a basic prescription I might be more likely to stop in one of these places because I could do it on a weekend for a known fixed cost rather than dealing with insurance.

@diasdiem: Yes; I think this is Walmart's plan to monetize that free clinic idea.

@Trai_Dep: I know your hatred of Wal-Mart is legendary around here, but you do realize this is the kind of thing that genuinely helps make healthcare affordable, right?

But, hey, let's shut 'em all down because it's Wal-Mart. Screw those sick people, we can't let Wal-Mart win!

Not to nitpick, but is TB tuberculosis? Were they really unable to type the whole thing out? They had plenty of room, as it stands it says "TB...................................." Yup, plenty of room.

CVS already has MinuteClinics, and we have CareNow, PrimaCare, and First Choice ER here in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. This is in addition to many other Urgent Care clinics. They all take insurance and often offer significant discounts for cash paying folks.

I think this is a good thing. It has certainly alleviated the strain on local emergency rooms. I expect that there will be people ripping on it just because Wal-Mart is involved, but that's just silly.

So, my vote: Good Thing.

I think making health care a retail-style business can be both good and bad. Like someone already pointed out, Walmart is known for lesser quality; but I think a quick visit to the Walmart doctor for $55 beats going to the emergency room and being billed hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

@Trai_Dep: y'know if it were only that easy.

There's something weird about commodifying medicine in this manner. Here's the list of medical services ... and here are the associated prices. It's weird. And it introduces a consumer model into medicine ("I have this, and I want this from my doctor to treat it") that precludes care for the whole body.

@Loias: TB is indeed tuberculosis. I'm pretty sure it's not spelled out on there because it would probably cost a good chunk of change to print out thousands of signs with an extra 10 letters rather than a ton of little elipses.

Also, TB is more identifiable, IMO. I wasn't aware that these kinds of clinics could actually treat active TB, so maybe they are offering TB tests instead.

With their reputation, why would anyone in their right mind go to a Wal-Mart for medical care, good prices or not?

@Trai_Dep: They couldn't do that. That would ruin sales from the in-store Blimpie and fried chicken with deep-fried potato wedges over at the deli.

@CompyPaq: I do see this as a good thing despite it being offered at Walmart. My worries are eased a bit by the knowledge that this is most likely leased space and not controlled directly by Walmart.

Now, if only my doctors would be a bit more upfront about the costs of an exam. It shouldn't take 3 days to calculate what they will charge the insurance company and what I have to pay.

@Loias: Maybe they figure their target audience doesn't know that tuberculosis is TB.

@CFinWV: I can tell you from current and personal experience that this is very true. I need oral surgery but I can't get it beacuse I don't have enough money to pay in full right now.

I'm not going to take out a line of credit just for this either.. so I'm waiting. Hopefully I'll have enough saved soon to get it done.

It's hard to be afraid of the dentist in genral AND be afraid of the cost.. but here I am.

@captadam: Yeah, but it's not really supposed to be a replacement for your regular physician. You're either uninsured and don't have a regular doctor or you have an urgent need after regular office hours.

@moore850: You know she stole that band-aid on her arm.

So if enough of us come in with sinus infections, will they lower the price? Isn't that what Walmart is all about - purchasing power? Seriously, though, for people with little or no health insurance, what is wrong with this option?

@Rectilinear Propagation: Right, cause most doctors' offices don't keep weekend hours, and ER visits are expensive and you have to wait.

@captadam:

I think it would be great if medical pricing were this transparent everywhere.