“The Clinic at Walmart” To Open In Owensboro
OMHS to open its third in-store clinic at Walmart Supercenter , Hwy. 54
Media Open House
Monday, January 4th · 10:00 – 11:30 am
OWENSBORO , KY – December 31, 2009 – Owensboro Medical Health System will open “The Clinic at Walmart” on Monday, January 4th at the Walmart Supercenter , Highway 54 East, Owensboro. The clinic will provide check-ups, immunizations, screenings and care for minor medical conditions and injuries.
Clinic hours will be Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
For busy customers seeking affordable, accessible healthcare—especially during evening hours or on weekends—clinics play a key role in the healthcare system. They can help steer patients toward more appropriate care instead of relying on hospital emergency rooms. In a survey of clinic customers, 10 to 15 percent said they would have used an emergency room had “The Clinic at Walmart” not been available. Another 5 to 10 percent reported they would have gone without treatment entirely, which could have led to serious healthcare complications.*
Scott E. Gaines, MD, an urgent care physician with experience in emergency medicine, will serve as medical director for the clinic and be on-site for interviews Monday morning. “Joining forces with Walmart will help ensure the health and wellness of the communities in our region,” says Gaines, who also practices at MultiCare, Madisonville. “Our clinics will be staffed with licensed healthcare providers to offer quality care in a convenient setting.”
“Providing healthcare in the retail setting is another effort our hospital is making to alleviate the region’s shortage of primary care physicians,” said Cheryl Brown, regional director of clinic services for OMHS. “Many primary care practices in our region are at or nearing capacity. We are continuing to recruit more physicians, but partnering with Walmart is another way we can provide additional access to care.”
In addition to enhancing the ‘one-stop shopping’ experience for customers, The Clinic at Walmart offers prompt access to affordably priced acute and preventive care for common health ailments treatable without urgent or emergency care, including sore throats, sinus infections, upper respiratory infections, earaches, bladder infections, insect bites and stings, cholesterol screening, blood sugar testing, vaccinations, drug screening and routine physicals.
“We are constantly looking for ways to add value for our customers and with this clinic we hope to provide our affordable, accessible and convenient healthcare,” says Bruce Shepard, Walmart’s director of health business development. “And because OMHS is a well-known and respected healthcare provider, our customers will benefit from the convenience of prompt professional care from an organization that they know and trust.”
For further information about “The Clinic at Walmart”, please visit www.walmart.com/clinics.
* Survey results based on an exit survey of 14,479 patients following visits to a clinic in Walmart between January 2006 and November 2006. Surveys were conducted by the clinic operators.
Owensboro Medical Health Systemserves an 11-county region in Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The hospital received the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award in 2009, placing it among the top five percent of hospitals in the nation for quality. OMHS is a full-service hospital, employing a workforce of nearly 3,200. OMHS also operates the HealthPark, a medical-based fitness center and a number of ancillary services, clinics and diagnostic centers. Regional clinics include MultiCare locations in Madisonville and Beaver Dam (KY) and Tell City (IN). OMHS also provides care through the Clinic at Walmart, in Owensboro, Henderson (KY) and Newburgh (IN).
About Walmart
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart stores, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $378 million to local communities in the United States. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com.