Sweetbay Supermarket clinic to launch campaigns aimed at women

TAMPA, Fla. It has been several months since the opening the USF Health Neighborhood Care Center within Sweetbay Supermarket and, according to a local news report, the clinic is launching campaigns aimed at women.

The move is yet another indication that convenience care clinics are expanding their services to drive clinic utilization and further augment - not replace - the medical community.

The opening of the clinic was originally reported in the Aug. 10 issue of Drug Store News.

According to a recent Tampa Tribune article, the clinic, which opened in partnership with USF Health, is launching campaigns aimed at women ages 35 to 55 to sign up for a bone density screening. It is also urging area residents to come in for seasonal flu vaccinations.

Although the companies have yet to launch an advertising campaign, the paper states, the clinic receives two to three telephone calls a day from people seeking directions to the store.

The clinic currently offers treatment for acute ailments and offers such services as camp physicals and vaccines. Patients can them be referred to the network of more than 350 doctors in the USF Physicians Group for further treatment, if needed.

The clinic opening was a significant development for the 103-store grocery chain and a continuation of a relationship with USF Health that began last year when Sweetbay was selected to open two pharmacies inside USF facilities.

Sweetbay is owned by Belgium-based Delhaize Group, with also owns Food Lion and Hannaford.