Policy & Regulation News

Target Partners with Kaiser Permanente to Improve Clinic

By Ryan Mcaskill

A new partnership between Target Clinic and Kaiser Permanente will increase the services provides at the retailer.

- Healthcare delivery methods are changing frequently. With millions of Americans getting insured for the first time through the Affordable Care Act, healthcare providers are looking for new ways to reach patients. One way is through reinventing delivery models and offering basic services in locations that are more convenient for patients, like the local Target.

According to a press release, Kaiser Permanente, a healthcare provider, is partnering with Target, to reinvent the retailer’s Target Clinics. While there are 1,801 target locations in the United States, only 79 of them in several states, have a Target Clinic. It handles minor illnesses like allergies, mono and pink eye, skin treatments, minor cuts and bruises, vaccinations and services like blood pressure readings and physicals.

The new partnership will increase the services offered to include pediatric and adolescent care, well-woman care, family planning and management of chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. This collaboration will serve Kaiser members and non-members alike.

The pilot program will launch in four Target Clinics in Southern California by the end of December. The clinics will be staffed by licensed nurse practitioners and licensed vocational nurses provided by Kaiser Permanente and will have physicians available through telemedicine consultations.

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  • According to Kevin Ronneberg, MD, the medical director for the Target Corporation, this partnership with help create a unique experience for guests and a comprehensive approach to supporting their wellness needs. Aside from just receiving a check-up, physical or flue shot from a medical professional, guests will also have access to the Target Pharmacy, healthy foods and wellness products stocked in the store.

    He added that the “exceptional” customer service that Target provides with the high-quality and affordable healthcare services that are offered by Kaiser.

    “We’re collaborating with Target because its clinics have a legacy of combining quality and convenience in a way that we think will resonate with both our members and the overall Target guest population,” says Paul Minardi, MD, medical director, Business Management, Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Target Clinics in Southern California. “This is the evolution of expanding Kaiser Permanente’s high-quality and holistic care delivery into a setting that will provide patients with wellness support.”

    This is an interesting move from both sides but points to how the healthcare landscape is changing. A report published in the journal Health Affairs last year found that the number of visits to retail health clinics is increasing dramatically. In 2007, 1.48 million visits occurred. That number increased to 5.97 in 2009 and topped 10 million at the end of 2012. On top of that, by the end of 2014, there will be an estimated 3,200 of these clinics around the U.S.