The Retail Clinics business model. Analysis of the market environment and situation

Abstract or Introduction

In the USA, there has been an increasing enthusiasm in recent years for the business model of the so-called "retail clinic", which experienced a real boom, particularly in the years 2006 to 2008. Supermarket chains and drugstores offer medical services through special and advertising-oriented offers. The decisive factor in their advertising strategy: it has to be fast and cheap.

However, the concept behind the "retail clinics" model is not new. Comparable ideas can also be found in the automotive industry, aviation, gastronomy or retail stores. They specialize in a particular target group, select a particular type of service, have standardized procedures and can thus guarantee a certain quality and offer it cost-effectively on the market. The inventor of "retail clinics" based this on the business model of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant. Customers choose their menu from a limited and low-cost range, as the processes are highly standardized and designed to be customer-friendly.

This paper deals with the business model of "retail clinics" and will present the past and current market situation in the USA. The focus will be particularly on the business management possibilities of this business model. Furthermore, the possibility of transferring this business model to the German health care system will be evaluated by looking at the opportunities and difficulties. Actors in the German healthcare system who might have an interest in this model will also be identified. Finally, comparable concepts that already exist in Germany will be presented.