CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has become an in-network provider with TriWest, the Western region plan contractor for Tricare — the healthcare insurance program for Uniformed Service members, retirees and their families.

The retail health clinic and urgent care center market currently is worth about $10 billion and is poised for strong growth in the coming years as the shortage of primary care physicians and crowded emergency rooms increasingly move patients to retail sites, according to new data by Marketdata Enterprises, an independent market research publisher.

MinuteClinic and OU Physicians, Oklahoma's largest physician group with more than 560 doctors, have entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance access to healthcare services in Oklahoma.

When asked about interest in using retail clinics to obtain specific medical services, the care model holds strong appeal for patients across several treatment categories, according to a Harris Interactive poll released Monday.