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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Intermountain Health Care plans to operate clinics in supermarkets, with the first one opening next week.
IHC calls the limited-service clinics ExpressCare, and the first one will be in a Smith's Marketplace store in the Millcreek area of Salt Lake County.
Another is to open in May at a Farmington Smith's.
If the two locations do well, more clinics could be installed in Smith's Marketplace stores and possibly in other grocery outlets.
"These clinics really meet the needs of busy individuals," said Phil White, assistant vice president of operations for IHC's Intermountain Medical Group. "They have gained a lot of popularity in other parts of the country. The time has come to introduce this in Utah."
Utah Medical Association spokesman Mark Fotheringham said physicians are concerned that consumers who go to a store clinic may spend more money if their problem is serious enough to be referred to a doctor, urgent care facility or emergency room.
"You get what you pay for," he said. "If you are concerned enough to go in and see a doctor, I'd say go see a doctor."
The clinics will care for minor medical conditions, such as sore throats, ear infections, seasonal allergies, sinus infections and insect stings.
Each visit will cost $35 plus the cost of any additional services. The visits are expected to last about 15 minutes. In the test phase, only one nurse will work at each location, accepting patients on a first-come, first-served basis.
Nurses can provide some immunizations and can administer pregnancy tests. Nurse practitioners also can write prescriptions.
Smith's considers the clinics another expansion of services offered to shoppers, including pharmacies, video rentals, banks, fast-food eateries and photo finishing.
"We think it's going to be a popular service," said Smith's spokeswoman Marsha Gilford.
University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics in Salt Lake City also is looking at opening tiny clinics staffed by nurse practitioners and designed to offer economical and convenient care.
"There really is a need for these types of clinics," said Rob Lloyd, University Hospital's executive director for ambulatory services and community clinics. "It's wonderful for mothers to be able to scoot in quickly with a sick child."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
