NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - March 12, 2009) - As healthcare costs continue to increase at a much higher rate than inflation and the recession deepens, more and more of the 90 million uninsured and underinsured Americans are turning to low cost health services provided by retail clinics, small medical offices usually staffed by nurse practitioners located inside grocery stores, drug stores and discount outlets. Estimates compiled by Kalorama Information and published in "Retail Clinics and the In-Store Healthcare Market 2009: Bright Spot in the Current Economy?" valued this market at $545.9 million in 2008, increasing 130.6% per year since 2003.

The U.S. retail clinic industry is at an early stage of growth and will continue at a healthy pace, though it is expected to slow to 29.6% through 2013. A large number of players are jockeying for market share, although a few are emerging as clear leaders. Currently MinuteClinic -- the company widely credited with developing the retail clinic concept and opening the first one in 2000 -- is leading the market, while Take Care Health trails at a distant second.

The economy is affecting retail clinics in both positive and negative ways. On the one had, the recession is creating more demand for the basic healthcare services provided by retail clinics. On the other hand, the operators and retailers are slowing their expansion plans due to the current difficulty in obtaining financing. This will somewhat impede rapid revenue growth for the time being, which should resume after 2012.

"It's a concept that makes a lot of sense in the current economy," said Bruce Carlson, publisher for Kalorama information. "For the unemployed, this is their place to get routine medical care. There won't be an explosion of new locations right now, but the existing locations will prosper. Most importantly, the double benefit of the clinics is that they drive sales into the drug stores and food stores, mostly for purchases of OTC products."

According to the report, the fastest growth for retail clinics is expected in drug store chains such as CVS and Walgreens.

"Results have been more mixed in big box stores like Wal-Mart, but drug stores see the most benefit from the indirect revenue," said Carlson.

Kalorama Information's new report "Retail Clinics and the In-Store Healthcare Market 2009: Bright Spot in the Current Economy?" examines convenience clinic operators, equipment suppliers' sales to retail clinics and the revenues earned by the retail outlets. It contains extensive market data and forecasts, competitor profiles, and discussions of the major issues and trends shaping the industry. For further information visit: http://www.kaloramainformation.com/redirect.asp?progid=67954&productid=2041111

About Kalorama Information

Kalorama Information supplies the latest in independent market research in the life sciences, as well as a full range of custom research services. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics.