CVS to open drop-in medical clinic inside South State Street store
The CVS store on South State Street near University of Michigan's campus plans to add a MinuteClinic.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
MinuteClinics — a division of the CVS Caremark Corporation — provide drop-in care for common illnesses and injuries, administer vaccinations, conduct physicals and monitor chronic conditions. The clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, according to the MinuteClinic website.
CVS plans to open a walk-in medical clinic inside its store on South State Street.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
CVS submitted a request to Ann Arbor’s Historic District Commission (HDC) to install a “MinuteClinic” sign on the exterior of its building at 209-211 S. State St. It would replace one of the “Photo” signs.
“MinuteClinic provides easily accessible healthcare services to the residents of Ann Arbor,” the HDC application says. “The purpose of the MinuteClinic signage is to ensure the residents have knowledge that there is a quick response healthcare center right inside their local CVS.”
The clinic was under construction Thursday on the second floor of the store in the pharmacy department.
MinuteClinics are open seven days a week and offer treatment for “common family illnesses,” such as strep throat, bladder infections and pink eye. Practitioners also treat minor wounds, offer routine lab tests and provide wellness services, such as smoking cessation and TB testing. (Learn more about services)
The clinics accept most insurance plans and posts service prices online for clients paying cash. Prices for initial treatment are listed as $79 to $89.
The South State Street MinuteClinic location will be the first in Washtenaw County. According to the MinuteClinic website, there are 12 clinics in southeast Michigan and 680 locations across 25 states. By 2017, MinuteClinic wants to have 1,500 clinics inside CVS stores.
The South State Street clinic is planning to open later this month, pending final approvals, according to MinuteClinic spokesman Brent Burkhardt.
CVS opened its store near U-M’s campus in 2011, after completing an $8 million renovation of the historic building.
Just down the street from the CVS, competing retail pharmacy giant Walgreen Co. signed a lease to open a store in the former Michigan Book & Supply building. Walgreens signs are posted in the windows of the building at 317 S. State St., and the store is expected to open in the first half of 2014.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
whale11
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 2:45 a.m.
I hope Hilary runs and if she wins, will again introduce a single payer system. I worked in England a number of years and the National Health Service was really good and inexpensive. Doctors even made house calls. The doctors there are paid by the number of patients they have, so our doctor took good care of me and my wife and three children. He didn't need to order a lot of tests or repeated unneeded office visits just earn his living. He just did whatever was needed to keep us well, including, as I said, home visits.
15crown00
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 12:27 a.m.
the students get it for free.people with money/ins. can pay a doctor,and the poor can go to the ER and in effect have us pay for it.where is the need?
Laurie Barrett
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 9:36 p.m.
Too bad we don't live in England.
MyOpinion
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 4:42 p.m.
This clinic meets a need. There are plenty of workers in the area that are not students nor covered by a reasonable health care plan. And, while students have comprehensive health care through the university, the hours are limited. If a student goes to the ER for a strep test on a weekend, this will be far more expensive than using the clinic. Real clinics associated with UM or St. Joe's charge extraordinarily high administrative fees for those without insurance - up to $150 before the tests. So paying $79 sounds competitive to me.
a2xarob
Tue, Aug 13, 2013 : 12:03 a.m.
That's right. There are lots of retail, delivery, and restaurant workers in this area who do not have health care coverage and perhaps not a family doctor. I think it's wonderful that there will be a convenient place to be seen in this area.
TheDiagSquirrel
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.
These clinics charge almost $100 for a service comparable to going online and researching your condition. They usually do not have proper diagnostic equipment, except for the basics. It is just a profit center, and they are extremely profitable for CVS.
poetreviewer
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 10:23 p.m.
Although I think these types of clinics are a great idea, the quality does vary from place to place as I've found out personally having to go see a non-clinic doctor after already seeing a clinic doctor in past illnesses. Let's hope for everyone's sake the doctors CVS hires are decent ones!
ChrisW
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 5:22 p.m.
Unfortunately it has become so expensive and cumbersome to see a real doctor that these clinics are a good choice for many.
Linda Peck
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 12:28 p.m.
If it is professionally staffed and managed, I think it is a good service in that location.
A2comments
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 11:09 a.m.
Students get free care at University Health Services, located 2 blocks east of CVS. Maybe CVS hopes for residents that aren't students.
Hugh Giariola
Tue, Aug 13, 2013 : 12:12 p.m.
@A2 & John of S, my mistake. I remembered a nominal fee for the Big 10 school I attended back in the day. I think I remember them charging for x-rays, meds, etc. At least students still get some added benefits for paying tuition.
MyOpinion
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.
Notice the hours: http://uhs.umich.edu/ Not exactly available 24-hours a day. And, UHS no longer has walk-in appointments. Those two factors alone will provide CVS some customers.
A2comments
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.
Hugh: They are free to students. Easily found on the UHS website: http://uhs.umich.edu/feestudents
John of Saline
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 3:14 p.m.
They were when I was there, Hugh.
Hugh Giariola
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 12:43 p.m.
I don't believe services at UHS are free.