CVS Closes 90 MinuteClinics For The Season…

Even the Minute Clinics are not escaping the effects of today’s economy. The article does mention they are continuing to open clinics in the Massachusetts area, which might lend some truth to the fact that we hear how difficult or how it is a long wait to find a primary care physician in that state. The doors are not closing, just shorter hours and some facilities closed until a next season, well we have 4 options there and the economy will be an indicator as to which season they re-open I would guess. Last time when I stopped by the one close to me, a good bit of the business was administering flu shots. BD

CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS) has placed about 16% of its retail MinuteClinic locations on a seasonal schedule, closing their doors for the time being, while keeping other drugstore clinics open in those markets, a company spokeswoman said Monday.

MinuteClinic, the largest operator of retail clinics in the U.S., is making the move "to align with consumer demand," said CVS Caremark spokeswoman Carolyn Castel. The company now has about 460 clinics in operation, excluding those now closed for the season, she said.

The move has implications for the retail clinic industry, which enters a slow season in the spring, and may be a sign of increased pressure wrought by the economic recession.