MinuteClinic's 10 millionth patient visit milestone speaks volumes

The news that MinuteClinic has surpassed 10 million patient visits is important because the pace at which these milestones are occurring speaks volumes to the increased patient acceptance.

(THE NEWS: MinuteClinic surpasses 10 millionth patient visit mark. For the full story, click here.)

As reported by Drug Store News, the retail clinic operator recently saw its 10 millionth patient since opening its doors in 2000. This is on top of the fact that MinuteClinic, as well as other clinic operators like Take Care Health Systems, continues to broaden its reach through strategic clinical affiliations with various health systems throughout the country.

The news came just as hundreds of retail health professionals gathered in Orlando, Fla., for the fourth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress. The three-day event, which took place during National Convenient Care Clinic Week, served as a platform where retail health professionals could network and receive exclusive accreditation.

It also should be noted that in CVS Caremark’s Aug. 4 conference call to discuss second-quarter results, Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Caremark, told analysts that the company's MinuteClinic business experienced a 28% increase in revenues during the second quarter and is on track to break even by the end of this year.

The clinic operator also is on track to open 100 new locations annually for the next five years. By 2015, it expects to operate more than 1,000 clinics.

Again, the pace at which these milestones are occurring clearly speaks volumes to the increased patient acceptance of retail-based health clinics. As the industry kicks into its next major growth phase, expect the next patient milestone to come quickly.