Target Corp. is teaming up with health care provider Kaiser Permanente to test of a new model for the retailer’s in-store health clinics.
Minneapolis-based Target (NYSE: TGT) said Sunday that under the deal, four Target Clinics in Southern California would be staffed by nurse practitioners from Kaiser. MedCity news has details of the deal.
Target already has clinics in 80 of its stores that handle minor medical tasks like treating pinkeye and giving flu shots, though it hasn’t expanded the idea as much as CVS and Walgreen’s have.
Until now, Target has hired its own clinic staff; using Kaiser personnel will enable the clinics to provide a much broader array of primary care services, including OB-GYN services and management of chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure. Doctors also will be available via telemedicine hookups.
Teaming with San Clamente, Calif.-based Kaiser could lower the costs of opening new clinics, the Star Tribune reports. The partnership is so far confined to the Southern California region but could expand if the test does well.