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Walmart Health center makes debut in Georgia

Supercenter-connected clinic aims to deliver more holistic, affordable care

Russell Redman

September 16, 2019

4 Min Read
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Walmart

Walmart has opened its first Walmart Health center, offering an array of affordable, basic health care and diagnostic services in partnership with local providers.

Attached to a remodeled Walmart Supercenter in Dallas, Ga., which held a grand opening on Friday, the Walmart Health center provides primary care; lab tests, X-rays and EKGs; dental, optical and hearing services; counseling and community health services (such as nutrition and fitness); and health insurance education and enrollment.

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The clinic has a separate entrance for patients and is operated by a staff of qualified health professionals, including doctors, nurse practitioners, dentists, behavioral health providers and optometrists, Walmart said. On hand to help customers navigate their visit and find out about the available services and resources are Walmart care hosts and community health workers.

In tandem with wellness organizations, the Walmart Health center also offers specialized community health resources, online learning and in-center workshops to educate customers about preventive health and wellness. And available at the adjacent store are a vision center and a full-service pharmacy, both of which feature a new designs geared toward reducing wait times and providing a more seamless patient experience.

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Sean Slovenski, senior vice president at Walmart and president of Walmart U.S. health and wellness, noted that Walmart Health is the first to offer all of these health services under one roof.

“Over the last year, our team has considered how to turn ‘live better’ into also meaning ‘live healthier’ while delivering moments of care to all our customers. We have been prioritizing how Walmart can be a leader in promoting better health outcomes for people in their communities, on their schedule and within their budgets,” Slovenski said in a statement on Friday. “This morning, we opened our first-ever Walmart Health center in Dallas, Ga., working with partners to provide key services such as primary care, labs, X-ray and EKG, counseling, dental, optical, hearing and community health education all at low, transparent pricing, regardless of customers’ insurance status — the first time all these services are in one facility.”

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As at Walmart stores, the Walmart Health center focuses on low cost and convenience, offering transparent pricing for key health services and high-quality care regardless of insurance coverage, according to Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart. Patients are notified of the estimated cost of their visit when they book their appointment. In addition, technology streamlines the process to schedule, check in, get an estimate on the service cost, pay and do other activities without paperwork, the retailer said.

Related:Supermarket pharmacies lead in customer satisfaction

Among the Dallas, Ga., clinic’s services, an office visit costs $40, with annual checkups running $30 for adults and $20 for children. Lab tests start at $10 (such as $10 for an A1C test and $20 for a strep test), while a dental exam including X-rays costs $25. A routine vision exam is priced at $45.

“Today’s launch of the local Walmart Health center in Georgia represents just one step in our commitment to making the entry point for quality health care easier for our customers,” Slovenski said. “We plan to use our location in Dallas, Ga., to learn how best to work with our partners to deliver the quality, affordable and accessible care customers want, with the goal to take the Walmart Health center model to the other communities we serve, starting with our second location opening in Calhoun, Ga., early next year.”

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Pet health is also a focus. The redesigned supercenter at 3615 Marietta Hwy. in Dallas houses an Essentials PetCare clinic to provide routine vaccinations, lab tests, microchipping and treatment for minor illnesses for dogs and cats, such as ear infections and common skin conditions. There’s no office visit fee, and the affordably priced services include immunizations as low as $25. Customers, too, can add on and bundle services. Pet medications are available in the pharmacy.

According to Jefferies analyst Christopher Mandeville, a tour of the Dallas store exhibited an “impressive” remodel, including several new department layouts, but the Walmart Health center “stole the show.” The state-of-the-art facility, with about 80 to 100 staff, aims to provide a more holistic health care experience, he said in a research note Monday.

“As is the approach to all [Walmart] initiatives, the concept offers customers high-quality, low-cost care with a broad set of services under one roof, allowing for more effective diagnoses and holistic treatments,” Mandeville wrote. “Care also extends to pets, further engraining Walmart into U.S. families and, in our view, fortifying its position as a long-term winner.”

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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