LITTLE ROCK, AR (Jan 7, 2008) –
MedBasics Family Health Centers today opened the first three retail-based clinics in the Little Rock area to provide fast, convenient walk-in treatment for minor ailments like colds, flu and strep throat at a cost significantly less than a trip to an urgent care clinic or hospital emergency room.
MedBasics clinics, which are open extended evening and weekend hours, provide flat-fee care for a variety of routine, non-urgent and preventative medical services including physical exams, immunizations, flu shots and treatments of common illnesses such as allergies, bladder infections, bronchitis, ear and sinus infections, fever and strep throat. The centers accept most insurance carriers, although it is not required, with a charge of $59 for most services, or insurance co-pay.
"We are pleased to have MedBasics help us create a one-stop health and wellness destination for our patients," said USA Drug Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Mark McGrew. "MedBasics offers a convenient and affordable way to access medical services, especially when our customers' own doctors' offices are closed, or when a costly trip to the emergency room seems their only option."
The clinics are located in the following USA Drug and USA Drug Express stores:
- Little Rock, 105 N. Rodney Parham
- North Little Rock, 2743 Lakewood Village
- Bryant, 3525 HWY 5 North
No appointment is ever needed, and visits usually only take 15 minutes. The Bryant location is open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday – Saturday, and 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Little Rock and North Little Rock locations are open 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday – Saturday and closed on Sunday.
MedBasics Family Health Centers are staffed by licensed advanced nurse practitioners who are supervised by physicians. "They will be guided by strict protocols in the treatment of some 30 routine non-urgent medical services," noted Dr. Lisa Taylor, MedBasics' Clinical Director. "The nurse practitioners will be able to write prescriptions, and will have access to a physician referral network for patients who might have a more serious medical condition."
Dr. Taylor noted that MedBasics follows the guidelines for clinics published by the American Medical Association. "MedBasics is not meant to replace a doctor-patient relationship, but rather to supplement that relationship by providing routine medical care at times and locations that are more convenient for patients," she added.
MedBasics CEO Brian Jones said the USA Drug agreement marks an important step in the company's expansion plans. "Having such a strong and recognized partner will help us execute our strategy of expanding MedBasics' presence nationally within the retail healthcare industry," Jones said.
Convenient care clinics, or in-store clinics, are quickly spreading to many parts of the country in drugstores, supermarkets and big-box chains. There are currently more than 500 in-store clinics in the U.S., and that number is expected to multiply into the thousands within the next few years.
"As companies and health insurers shift more of the cost of medical care to the consumer, we think retail medical clinics will become a primary source of affordable routine, non-urgent medical care," noted Jones.
MedBasics anticipates opening an additional 47 clinics in stores owned by Pine Bluff, Ark.-based USA Drug stores over the next few years. USA Drug operates USA Drug, Super D Drugs, May's Drug Stores, Drug Warehouse, Med-X Drug and Ike's Discount stores in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas.
MedBasics operates six retail-based clinics in Dallas-Fort Worth and will open six clinics in Kansas City within the next month. MedBasics expects to have 500 clinics in operation by 2010.
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About MedBasics
Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, MedBasics is a leading operator of convenient care clinics, providing medical services inside major retail outlets and offering fast, convenient and affordable treatment for routine medical conditions and preventive care.
About USA Drug
In 1984, the first USA Drug store opened in Pine Bluff, Ark. Over the past 20 years, the USA Drug family, which includes USA Drug, Super D Drugs, May's Drug Stores, Drug Warehouse, Med-X Drug and Ike's Discount stores, has grown to more than 150 stores with retail outlets in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas. For more information about USA Drug, visit
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