Walmart has added health care to its catalog of goods and services in Florida, opening health clinics this week at its stores on Collins Road in Jacksonville and Branan Field Road in Middleburg and later at three other sites across the state.
The intent of Walmart Health centers, billed as “the future of health care,” is to provide quality, accessible and affordable care in facilities adjacent to superstores.
“We know the convenience and cost of health care remains a barrier for many Americans,” said Dr. David Carmouche, senior vice president of Omnichannel Care Offerings at Walmart. “Our state-of-the-art facilities provide a range of health care services in one convenient location for members of the local community so they can get the right care at the right time, right next door to where they do their grocery shopping.”
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Florida, with 13 percent growth from 2010 to 2019, was clearly a state in need of more health clinics, he said.
“With only one primary care doctor per 1,380 Florida residents, these Walmart Health centers will help address the demand for care in three major cities in the Sunshine State…,” he said. “We are part of these communities, and we are excited to bring more options for in-person and telehealth care services to our neighbors. We’re making health care available when and where you may need it.”
Walmart Health launched in 2019 with one clinic in Georgia and now has 21 locations in that state, Illinois and Arkansas. In addition to Jacksonville and Middleburg, Walmart Health’s expansion into Florida includes later openings in the Orlando and Tampa areas.
At least one more is planned for the Jacksonville area at the Philips Highway Superstore, according to city building officials.
Increasing access to care
The new Walmart Health clinics will create about 200 direct jobs in Florida, with many more indirectly connected to its construction and technology. The Jacksonville locations will account for nearly 40 percent of the total Florida hires, according to the company.
Clinic staff will include physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, behavioral health providers and optometrists. Also, hosts and community health workers will be on-site to help patients navigate the process, according to the company.
“Something we’ve always known but has come into particular focus over the past two years during the pandemic is that health care is local,” Carmouche said. “Patients want to be cared for by people they know and trust and who understand the nuanced challenges of where they live and work.”
U.S. Rep. Al Lawson of Jacksonville called the clinic opening a “pivotal moment for residents.”
“The ability for my constituents to have convenient access to health care in their community is critical to preventive care,” he said.
Lawson said the clinic was a “one-stop-shop” for chronic disease management, mental health counseling, dental and vision care services. He also noted that it provides telehealth services one day a week for “individuals who may have trouble making in-person medical appointments.”
“This is a wonderful project that leads to a healthier community,” he said.
Sunil Joshi, an allergy and immunology specialist and leader in the Duval County Medical Society, had mixed feelings about Walmart’s clinic plans.
“By opening primary care clinics in current store locations, Walmart has the potential to increase access to care, especially if they are doing this in underserved areas,” he said. “That has the potential to be a good thing.”
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But he noted that the company often sells household goods at lower prices than its competitors.
“Health care is a different animal,” Joshi said. “Cheapest care is not always the best care. Will this actually reduce the cost of health care or make things worse? The jury is out. In my opinion, Walmart should have more of a focus on placing grocery stores in food deserts. That may have a more positive impact on the health of a region.”
The clinics will utilize Epic health technology, a comprehensive health records system used by about 2,000 hospitals and 45,000 clinics. Patients, health care professionals and insurance carriers will use a single, unified system, according to the company.
“That means our patients will spend less time filling out forms on a clipboard and more time engaging with their provider,” Carmouche said. “If they need to seek specialty treatment outside our Walmart Health … transitioning records will be easier. That’s just one more way we are keeping our patient needs at the heart of everything we do.”
Nationwide, Walmart has about 380 retail locations and 120,000 associates.
bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109
WALMART HEALTH
The new Jacksonville clinic is open at the Walmart Superstore at 7075 Collins Road, and the Middleburg clinic opens Thursday at the Superstore at 1586 Branan Field Road. Hours at both are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and, by telehealth, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. To make an appointment go to walmarthealth.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville site first of Walmart Health expansion into Florida
