An in-store medical clinic at the Wal-Mart Supercenter is the first of its kind in Washington state.
The clinic, operated by Auburn Regional Medical Clinic at Federal Way, is now open and serving customers seven days a week at the retail store, 34520 16th Ave. S.
Clients can receive basic health care services, such as checkups, immunizations, treatment for minor injuries and school sports physicals. The clinic, known as “the clinic at Wal-Mart” is one of many planned for the nationwide retail chain.
“I’m both honored and excited to be able to offer this to our customers,” said Eddie Scholl, Federal Way Wal-Mart Supercenter manager.
Receiving care
The clinic offers a range of get-well and stay-well services, and strives to bring convenience to customers. Practitioners are able to treat infections, allergies, rashes, sprains, upset stomachs, colds, flu and several other common ailments. Diagnostic screenings are available, including screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, HIV, drugs, pregnancy and more. Vaccines are also offered.
Prices for services vary. Flu vaccines are available for $20. A drug screening costs $85. Several other common illness treatments are priced at $65, not including a diagnostic screening to determine the cause of the illness.
The in-store clinic is open seven days a week and uses a pager system to allow customers to shop while waiting their turn to see a practitioner. Clients may receive service on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. If the practitioner is with another customer, new customers will be given a pager that will signal when their turn to see the practitioner has arrived.
The clinic provides an alternative to visiting a hospital emergency room for basic care needed after general business hours, said Amy Rupert, director of clinical operations for Auburn Regional Medical Clinic at Federal Way.
“This community is going to be very well served,” Rupert said.
Robert Dickens, chief operating officer for Auburn Regional Medical Clinic, said the clinic is an opportunity to be a larger part of Federal Way and to build relationships.
Federal Way’s Wal-Mart clinic is one of a kind in Washington, but is one of several located in Wal-Mart stores across the nation. Federal Way’s clinic brings the retailer’s total to 18 in-store health centers.
“We are constantly looking for ways to add value for our customers and, with this clinic, we hope to provide Puget Sound area customers with affordable, accessible and convenient health care,” said Bruce Shepard, Wal-Mart director of health business development, in a press release.
