+ Strategy+Business on healthcare's retail solution

One of the most exciting and potentially game-changing developments in the world of healthcare is the rise of the retail mini-clinic, as pioneered by Wal-Mart, MinuteClinics, and other chains. Strategy+Business published an excellent overview of retail as the new face of healthcare, and the benefits it could offer for consumers, providers, and society in general. It's a little on the long side, but if this is something you're interested in, it's definitely worth spending the time to read it.

Imagine a future in which the health-care system provides consumers high-quality care in a variety of convenient forms at competitive prices. In this vision, insurers, employers, and governments offer consumers financial incentives to take better care of themselves — to exercise, eat right, stop smoking, and follow treatment regimens for chronic problems such as asthma and diabetes. The system encourages consumers to plan for the health-care needs they can anticipate (i.e., nonemergencies) by “shopping” for products and services much as they do for a new car; consumers make informed decisions based on readily available reports on quality, service, and price. Providers and product manufacturers compete for different segments of the market using a variety of channels, formats, and business models. And consumers confused by the profusion of offerings can turn to agents who help them design the most suitable health-care programs for themselves and their families. Such a robust retail health-care market is more than a vision; it is a real possibility.

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