WATERVILLE
Medical clinic debuts at city's Walmart store
By Scott Monroe smonroe@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
WATERVILLE -- Starting today, you can add basic health care to the roster of what's inside the city's Walmart Supercenter, off Waterville Commons Drive.
WALK-IN WELLNESS: A new walk-in health clinic operated by Inland Hospital is open in the Walmart store in Waterville. Employee June Allan walks in a hallway Friday past an examination room where Jenny Morales, left, Clinic Administrator Hope Pendexter and Kathy Dahms prepare for today's opening.
Staff photo by Dvaid Leaming
The Clinic at Walmart, provided by Inland Hospital in Waterville, offers check-ups, immunizations, and screenings for minor illnesses and is open seven days a week. It's tucked into a 550-square-foot space at the store's front end, alongside a Dunkin' Donuts, salon and spa, credit union, vision center and photo laboratory.
Walmart has been adding health clinics to its stores the last a couple years as part of its drive for "one-stop shopping."
The trend of retail clinics at Walmart and other stores seems to becoming more common, said Deborah Halbach, executive director of the Maine Academy of Family Physicians, which has about 500 members who are family medicine specialists.
"The retail clinic trend has been around for about two years, and I've heard it from other chapters of the academy, but it just now seems to be coming to Maine," Halbach said.
Customers leaving the Walmart on Friday afternoon offered mixed responses about the walk-in clinic, which accepts cash, credit cards and some insurances. Some customers said they already had primary-care physicians and weren't interested, while others said they planned to use the clinic.
"I think it'll be a great service for a lot of the lower-income shoppers who come here," said Melissa Bouchard, of Waterville, who is also a store employee and was shopping with her mother, Christine Doucette.
Doucette said she doesn't have health insurance and would consider using the clinic. "It'd probably be quicker than the hospital," she said.
Elaine Burnham of Clinton said cash-strapped people are probably in need of a cheaper alternative: "I would use it if I couldn't get in at the doctor's."
Including the Waterville clinic, there are now 97 in-store clinics at Walmarts in 21 states, according to the company.
The Maine Medical Association is generally supportive of such walk-in clinics -- if they're run properly -- because "competition is good and it's important that patients have an opportunity to find medical care at times and places that are convenient for them," said Gordon Smith, executive vice president of the association. Such clinics also may help amid a shortage of primary-care doctors, he said.
Still, Smith said, the handful of other fledgling clinics that have opened in Maine recently haven't been very successful financially.
"There's not a lot of money to be made in health care in Maine," Smith said. "So many patients are on Medicare, Medicaid or are uninsured. It's a difficult demographic. We struggle up here to provide primary care as it is, and most people don't see it as a business opportunity."
Smith also said clinics such as the Waterville Walmart's are no different than existing doctors' offices, because they're run by a health-care provider, not Walmart.
It's the first such retail clinic for Inland Hospital, but the hospital's parent company, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, has opened retail clinics this year in Bangor, Brewer and Presque Isle.
The Waterville Walmart clinic has two examination rooms and will have at least two staff workers there during business hours, including one nurse practitioner; and Inland Hospital hired two new nurse practitioners to handle most of the patients, according to John Dalton, Inland's president and chief executive officer.
Dalton said the clinic is best suited to treat common ailments such as sinus infections, earaches, bladder infections, poison ivy, sunburns and to provide vaccinations.
Inland should break even financially after about a year of operating the clinic, Dalton said.
"Our clinic is staffed with experienced, caring nurse practitioners, even on nights and weekends, so families can receive quality care for non-urgent, basic medical needs without a long wait," Dalton said. "The clinic can also help ease the burden on emergency rooms, which aren't intended to treat everyday illnesses like sore throats."
According to the clinic's rate card, services include $14 for a pregnancy test, $29 for a flu vaccine, and $49 for treatment of a sinus infection or physical examination. The most expensive services cost $69, for treatment of urinary tract and bladder infections and ear wax removal.
Its hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The clinic can be reached at 680-2110.
Scott Monroe -- 861-9253
smonroe@centralmaine.com
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Copyright ©2010 MaineToday Media, Inc.
35 COMMENTS
wingnut said...
Welfare Mart Welfare Medicine. One stop redneckking fer sher!
July 31, 2010 at 2:10 AM Report abuse
Nat said...
Like we really need that....what a waste of money...I'd rather go to my PCP whom I love and trust with my healthcare
July 31, 2010 at 4:58 AM Report abuse
cat said...
Nat, not everybody is as fortunate as you are. For those without a primary care physician or for those who make too much for MaineCare and can't afford health insurance, clinics like this are a sensible and cost-effective alternative. I had hoped it would be a strict fee-for-service clinic in order to keep the cost of procedures down, and I'd like to see more services offered, but this is a start. Welcome to the evolution of health care.
July 31, 2010 at 5:27 AM Report abuse
Nosaj said...
Guess wing and nat have never been to Inland hospital before. I switched over just over a year ago from Maine General and what a differance. The staff and the way you are treated is awesome, as well as top notch care. So I would use the clinic because Im sure it is run by very qualified people, I dont care about the location just the treatment.
July 31, 2010 at 5:32 AM Report abuse
KnightDriver said...
Sick people parading in and out of a food store...no thanks. I'm done shopping there.
July 31, 2010 at 5:33 AM Report abuse
Reality said...
It's nice to see ignorance is thriving in this colums. What a great idea for all insurances. At this time people have to go to the E.R. for some of the services this clinic will provide at a reasonable cost. As for people being sick in a food store, sorry to wake you up but people are sick anyway, at your work place, school, store, sporting events what does that comment say about you. as for Welfare, I'm not on welfare far from it, all walks of life go to Walmart and even if I was what does it matter. As for Inland they are doing a great job, look out MGMC, your customer service is in the toilet, you just keep doing what your doing, you wont need a new hospital, there will be nobody to hospitalize as EMC, REDINGTON AND CMMC are much better hospitals.
July 31, 2010 at 6:11 AM Report abuse
ang327 said...
Reality: Well said! I couldn't have wrote it better myself!
July 31, 2010 at 6:27 AM Report abuse
clodhopper said...
walmart prices are a rip-off,half the items on their shelfs was used&returned,the place is a living nightmare. we go to target like we use to go to walmart,the prices are lower at target.
July 31, 2010 at 6:32 AM Report abuse
SkyPilot55 said...
I'm certainly not a fan of Wal*Mart, but I am a big fan of Inland. I only deal with MGMC because that's where my PCP is affiliated (and I really like my doc a lot). I agree with all the comments about Inland's customer service and quality care - and while I first grimaced when I saw the headline, knowing that Inland is involved will assure that this is a quality healthcare alternative.
July 31, 2010 at 7:02 AM Report abuse
maggiemay said...
Redington ????What a joke.They can't even take blood pressure.This is no lie. I was in that hospital for a minor problem.They took my blood pressure and the cuff blew off my arm and darn near hit me in the face.They apologized over & over for it but I was very upset.That place SHOULD go under for sure.I'll take Seton anyday or better yet,Portland.!!!
July 31, 2010 at 7:31 AM Report abuse
Divinity said...
I went in for a prostate exam and earwax removal; but after comparison shopping, I just had the pregnancy test. I'll wait for Rollback Day to tend to the cerumen and on my way out the door the greeter goosed me and said that I don't need the other exam. Awesome!
July 31, 2010 at 7:38 AM Report abuse
MeMissU said...
Well I agree with Reality and Cat, and say to Nat..be careful with the one you love and trust with your healthcare ok. And to wingnut..you are probably against Welfare, but just hope 'n pray you never need it. I'm not on it, but at the end of the month, a little assistance would be nice.
July 31, 2010 at 8:03 AM Report abuse
oldpole said...
Divinity, with this uptight world, I welcome your humor with open arms. Thanks
July 31, 2010 at 9:19 AM Report abuse
HesterPrynne said...
These clinics are, in my opinion, very helpful. People who might not have gotten health care otherwise, might stop in at one of these clinics. Also, a place like this actually serves as a triage for the Emergency Departments in local hospitals. If something is minor and can be treated quickly and easily, outside a hospital, those people won't be clogging up the ER, which is incredibly expensive, just for minor complaints. I think it's a win/win situation. In the south there is a retail chain of 'docs in a box' type clinic. In Virginia, they were open 7 days a week and even holidays. They closed only for a few hours in the middle of the night. You didn't need an appointment except to get a complete physical. Their phone message listed which doctors were working which days, so you had some choice of physician. I felt I got really good care there. And they were financially successful as well.
July 31, 2010 at 9:37 AM Report abuse
THVja3lkYWQ%3D said...
I agree with you Maggiemay Redington is for sure the worst Hospital!! When we used to go there we was waiting for hours to be seen and now we go to Thayer and it is like we walk in and then walk out within 20 minutes!! Redington can never find my blood either...Thayer they have no problem so we now skipped Redington and drive the extra 20 minutes to Thayer!!!
July 31, 2010 at 9:41 AM Report abuse
nirvana65 said...
this is freaking crazy!!!walmart sucks and they should be boycotted-just another way to lure more shoppers in to buy something made in china and screw the general public while they laugh all the way to the bank-its ironic that 80% of wal mart employees are part time but work an average of 35 to 37 hours and offered NO benefits or health insurance. they should not even get the press they do-they don't deserve it and it has nothing to do with what they offer the community-only how much more cash they can stuff in the coffers!
July 31, 2010 at 10:24 AM Report abuse
kramelop said...
Reality said... "It's nice to see ignorance is thriving in this colums." Actually Reality, you that are mistaken. It may be low cost, but shows little forethought. In theory it's a great idea; in execution it's potentially a harm to customers and a detriment to the store. Aside from the preventive care aspects, this is an open invitation for those that are ill to intentionally congregate in a public place. The waiting area is in direct proximity to the checkout registers. If the waiting area was segregated, I might feel differently. While it is true that there are ill folk walking amongst us every day at the store, there are still more that would have otherwise avoided public exposure due to thier illness. Perhaps they would have sought care with the Express Ccare on KMD or with their own primary care. This is an open invitation for them to gather and wait in a public area directly adjacent to patrons who are checking out. Maybe not the smartest move Walmart ever made.
July 31, 2010 at 10:31 AM Report abuse
Divinity said...
Just in time for this Fall's H1N1. "Shoppers, we are rolling back prices today on non-woven 3-ply surgical disposable face masks in the 50-count boxes - aisle 25. Also, try our free samples of Cheeza-Doodles in aisle 26. Just reach in and grab a handful. They're yummylicious."
July 31, 2010 at 11:20 AM Report abuse
Pop2 said...
KnightDrive( Weather theres a clinic at wal-Mart or not , there are sick people coming in and out all the time.
July 31, 2010 at 12:22 PM Report abuse
Milt said...
They just lost my business. No matter how you slice it - magnifying the sick population in a store is a massive increased risk of contamination & infection to the healthy population. This is NOT appropriate. I will not support this by patronizing this business any longer.
July 31, 2010 at 1:16 PM Report abuse
UofA said...
MILT!- Do you really think Walmart cares about your shopping in their stores? Go to your Targets and Mardens! AND FOR DIVINITY!!! You are going to the wrong doctors if you get earwax removed from a Prostate Exam!
July 31, 2010 at 1:51 PM Report abuse
MaineMum said...
I'm shocked at how often people use the emergency room for routine, non urgent care. With our insurance an ER visit costs $150 -- so something must be bleeding profusely or broken for us to consider using it. I'm optimistic about this clinic and when the time comes, I'd absolutely get my child's sports physicals here. Inland Hospital is known for its quality care. I initially agreed with KnightDriver.. but I tend to believe that the sick people are already at Wal-Mart -- they may be there filling prescriptions or buying cold meds. Maybe, they could install a new entrance to this clinic from the outside of Wal-Mart.
July 31, 2010 at 2:25 PM Report abuse
mdenis46 said...
Hey, if people can benefit from it, why not? Not everyone who shops at Wal-Mart is on welfare! Some of us just like to spend less money than other retailers charge. Apparently those who hate Wal-Mart can AFFORD to shop elsewhere! Must be all those rich people!
July 31, 2010 at 5:39 PM Report abuse
clodhopper said...
i went into the walmart clinic at the bangor store for an ingrown toe nail.....they cut off my family jewels by mistake. now i dont feel like doing anything except post.
July 31, 2010 at 6:45 PM Report abuse
des said...
how can something like this be placed in a STORE!? oh, you dont feel good? its ok, lets take a trip up to walmart...ugh no..this is the stupidest, lowest idea ive seen. im not sayin its wrong for hospitals to expand..but, in walmart? come on now..
July 31, 2010 at 6:47 PM Report abuse
wingnut said...
Wow Divinity~ Prosate exam and pregnancy check? I guess that removes all doubt! You really can perform auto intercourse!
July 31, 2010 at 7:26 PM Report abuse
THVja3lkYWQ%3D said...
Nirvana65 you are totally wrong about Walmart employees they do get benefits and they are good ones! My husband has worked for walmart for almost 10 years and he gets his 40 hours a week, every week!! The health insurance is not all that great but everyone else health insurance sucks too! You dont like Walmart then dont shop there or apply there for a job! Walmart is just like any other store!!
July 31, 2010 at 7:35 PM Report abuse
THVja3lkYWQ%3D said...
Milt I am afraid to tell you People are always shopping while being sick! You cant tell me you dont ever go into a store only when you are healthy! How does the sickness spread hhmm by people shopping while being sick and passing it on to those of us healthy!!
July 31, 2010 at 8:46 PM Report abuse
AKMaineiac said...
UofA said... You are going to the wrong doctors if you get earwax removed from a Prostate Exam! ___ Not necessarily. In the case of rectocranial inversion the ear is located quite handily to the prostate...
July 31, 2010 at 9:08 PM Report abuse
HoHum said...
YOu posters are funny....I ask one simple question have you ever seen a healthy person shop at Walmart? Don't think so mist are overweight and have one ailgment or another. Most healthier people just don't shope there period. so if you think you are healthy and are a shopper of Walmart....jump on the scale?
July 31, 2010 at 10:46 PM Report abuse
clodhopper said...
walmart is like a side show, theres the tattoo man,fat lady,beaded lady, man that has not bathed in months, all kinds of freaks to loom at
July 31, 2010 at 11:52 PM Report abuse
YmlnYw%3D%3D said...
I'm with you KnightDriver!!! I am not a big fan of Wallyworld anyway, now a clinic in the store. I do believe I will continue to shop the Dollar store and Hannafords.
August 1, 2010 at 9:12 AM Report abuse
Hipupchuck said...
Everybody likes Walmart. Their parking lot is always full. Some people just hate winners. Target is not so hot and Kmart is like a museum. Target's food court is ok if you like candy.
August 1, 2010 at 6:18 PM Report abuse
null said...
walmart doing good? read the financial pages sometime. the company stopped reportin monthly SSS their sales are so bad. they are about to report the worst quarterly sales fiqures in the histry of the company. when super targets start openin in the northeast watch how mobbed they are
August 1, 2010 at 9:45 PM Report abuse
cm9iYmluczEyMw%3D%3D said...
I loved the comments on the article, I don’t think they understand that the clinic is for minor things not an emergency room, and give me a break about being sick shopping these people could just as easily leave inland and head to walmart for prescriptions! I don’t think you are going to spread your UTI or earache on their food. Also many Primary care providers are booking out a couple weeks because they are over loaded with patients due to the shortage or primary care doctors in the area, this over loading emergency rooms and making wait time longer.
August 2, 2010 at 8:33 AM Report abuse