Retail medical clinics expecting an influx of customers

[Star Tribune, October 13, 2012] Walk-in clinics stand to gain a lot more customers in the years ahead.

More than 30 million Americans will gain health insurance in 2014 as a result of federal health reform efforts, at a time when many doctors' offices already are full and a physician shortage looms.

MinuteClinic has forged alliances with 20 prominent medical systems around the country including Minneapolis-based Allina Health.

"If health care's payment model is going to change, and we're going to be responsible for taking care of populations, then you have to start to fill in the holes of where people access care," said Dr. Bob Wieland, Allina's vice president of ambulatory services."

Read the entire article at startribune.com.