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A CareClinic was opened late last year as part of an expansion and remodel of Bartell’s Bellevue Village store.
SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs is set to open CareClinic walk-in medical clinics at two more of its stores, which will bring its total clinic count to 10.
The Seattle-area drug chain said the new clinics, run in collaboration with nonprofit health system Group Health Cooperative, will open at its Alderwood store on June 27 and at its Jefferson Square store in West Seattle on July 11. The Alderwood location will be the first CareClinic in Snohomish County.
“CareClinics have been a great addition to Bartell Drugs’ service offerings,” John Lewis, director of CareClinic operations at Bartell Drugs, said in a statement. “The convenience and value of the clinics, and the professional medical services available through our Group Health certified health providers, are an excellent option for individuals needing quick, convenient medical care and vaccinations at an affordable price, seven days a week with no appointment necessary.”
Bartell Drugs reported that patient use of CareClinics has nearly doubled and more than 3,500 immunizations have been administered since the current eight clinics opened, starting in 2014. Patients were seen for a range of common ailments, including upper respiratory infections, rashes and skin issues, pinkeye, ear infections and sinusitis, among others.
In December 2013, Bartell Drugs and Group Health unveiled a partnership to open in-store health clinics, to be bannered CareClinic Group Health at Bartell Drugs. The first three locations opened their doors in January 2014 at Bartell’s Ballard and University Village stores in Seattle and at its Crossroads store in Bellevue, and in March 2015 Bartell and Group Health said more in-store clinics would be opened over the next 18 months.
CareClinics are staffed by Group Health clinicians — advanced registered nurse practitioners or certified physician assistants — and provide basic medical care on a walk-in basis. Visits are typically treated as an office visit by insurance or cost $75 without insurance, with lab tests typically adding $15 per procedure. Sports and camp physicals cost $50. CareClinics are open to everyone ages 2 and older. For Group Health members, clinicians can enter diagnosis and treatment into patients’ electronic medical records, allowing their medical team to share medical information no matter where they are seen.
With the upcoming openings of the two new clinics, CareClinic also has launched an enhanced website. The new site enables patients to add their name to a waiting queue from any online device.
“Patients come to CareClinics for convenient, quality care,” Lewis added. “The new website gives a patient a view into how long she or he may have to wait.”
Overall, Bartell Drugs operates 64 stores in Washington’s King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.
