"Go Big...or Go Home"

What ????? A full service medical clinic at Walmart? As a medical business strategist, I pride myself in being known as a healthcare disruptor. One of my biggest passions is growing healthcare practices. I help open new locations and make them successful. It all comes down to building relationships in the new market, while maintaining current relationships in the existing office areas.

This new approach by Walmart to healthcare is creating quite the buzz in the community of Dallas, Ga. According to their staff this is the first of its kind. Its their pilot tester. Now let me be totally honest here, I was completely blown away by my first experience at the clinic. I am not really a Walmart shopper, unless I absolutely have to brave through the doors. I prefer the more "coddling" approach where the checkout is an extraordinary experience and they offer to take my groceries to my car and load them. I also like being asked if I need help while wandering through the store. I prefer not to have to "hunt" an employee down if I have a question.

This is exactly why I was completely "blown away" by my first encounter. As I entered the doors, I was greeted by the nicest person. He offered to show me around. As I did a walk through I was really impressed by the incredibly modern and nicely decorated rooms. He handed me a fitness schedule. YES, a fitness schedule that included things like Zumba, Yoga, Cardio, Stretch, Silver Sneakers and Lengthen and Tone. The fitness room looked exactly like something you would expect in a higher end fitness center.

Next, I entered the main waiting room. There, I was greeted by three ladies who went on to talk about nutrition classes, social events, product demo's. What? Is this for real? I had a flashback from entering my vacation cruises and had to double check that's not where I was...lol. I explained who I was, and that I represented some medical groups in the area and a prescription assistance program. Their faces lit up and they got some type of practice manager to go bring the physician to meet me. YES! an MD...once again I was pleasantly surprised. He was very nice and told me that he had already been out in the community and had actually met one of my physicians.

So, here's my review. If this clinic continues to concentrate on this type of relationship building, then this will definitely completely disrupt healthcare in a very positive way. I have some older teenage, young adult kids, and I can totally get on board with letting them go in for a health visit, while I shop. Walmart would definitely see me spending more money with them, and who knows, maybe I'll even take a Yoga class before I do my shopping:)