Thursday, October 8, 2009
One-Stop Shop Society
Going to the grocery store used to mean just buying fruit, vegetables, meat and milk. Now, you can get a cup of coffee with free Wi-Fi, go to the bank, and obtain healthcare advice and treatments. Since when is it acceptable to add “doctor visit”, or “get immunization” to the bottom of your grocery list? With these super-convenient “retail clinics” not only has healthcare become more affordable, but now minor injuries and pains can be taken care of evenings and weekends. Though these “retail clinics” are easily accessible, is it really acceptable? What will happen to the traditional doctor’s office? To become competitive, Walmart and other grocery stores are offering prescriptions for less and even in store doctors, opticians, and pharmacies- is the public taking on healthcare reform? Is a line being crossed when fitting in a physical between the deli and produce? Especially now, with the semi-pandemic of the H1N1 virus, healthcare should not be such a public affair. Now, just like the rest of our world, healthcare has become a convenience and part of the mass-market merchandising.
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12 comments:
I totally agree, mixing a trip to the grocery store with one to the doctors, just doesn't seem right. Going to the doctors is something I have always felt is incredibly personal and formal, which are two things a Wal-Mart definitely is not! I really think our country should work to move against such a service, before it becomes a standard. Facing hard times economically, our country is constantly obsessed with making products and offering services in the cheapest way possible. So as affordability has turned into "cheap," places like Wal-Mart have taken complete control, attempting to sell anything society will purchase. Which has led to this "multi-purpose" problem we recognize by building pharmacies in grocery stores. So, may be making our country more accommodating isn't such a good thing after all.
This one-stop-shop has been going on for quite some time. Many decades ago, the barber shop used to be the doctor as well. If a barber shop had one of those red and white spiral signs outside of the shop, that meant that the barber would also perform medical exams. In addition, inside the barber shops were goods available for purchase such as cigarettes, candy, and canned food. In today's society, the one stop shop is enhanced. While I agree that seeing the doctor is personal and should be confidential, I believe that for some people (those that don't have insurance) seeing the doctor at wal-mart may be the only option because of costs.
I would agree by saying that the Dr. inside Walmart seems a little sketchy. But look at the other side of things, this convenience also means less trips to other places. That means less traveling and less gas used. Having Dr's in the store is a bit weird but I think it is great to have almost everything in one place. It greatly cuts down on environmental costs.
Having one-stop shops is certainly convenient for a busy parent or anyone running lots of errands. I wonder how increased products and services at large chain stores will affect other businesses. What is the next thing Walmart will add, a hotel?
haha maybe they'll add those sleeping pods like in Japan. Personally I think it's totally fine what wal-mart is doing. If somebody wants to go to a cheap doctor at wal-mart I say go for it. You still have the option of going to a real one if need be.
I agree, going to the doctor at Walmart may seem a little sketchy, but what about the people who can't afford to see a doctor in an office? I wonder what the main incentive for having a doctor in a convenience store was? I guess it is for convenience. It would certainty be if you are running around all day. One less stop.
It is a new age. People want convenience and are not afraid to take advantage of it. Kudos to those companies for creating something that people are willing to spend money for in times like these. As much as a shame it is that the traditional doctors offices are fading, you have to look at it as a change in times and accept it. Even though i would never get any sort of medical advice from Wal-Mart, there are some people out there that can't afford going to a normal doctors office and it is their only option. These places aren't going to completely exterminate doctors offices, they are simply offering another option to those who may need it, and at a time like this in our economy, I don't think it is such a bad thing.
I too think it is really offsetting to visit a doctor's office in Walmart or get immunizations at King Soopers. However, even if I personally will never go anywhere but an actual doctor's office/hospital, I don't think these merged office-stores are an entirely bad idea. Like everyone here pointed out, they offer health options to those who can't afford the tradition visits. Also, I'd imagine you have to be just as trained and certified to be a doctor at Walmart as you do in a hospital. Odd location doesn't mean they're less knowledgeable.
I think the should allow as long as the credentials are there for the doctors. It seems weird to me to buy groceries in Wal-Mart but if other people want to do that whatever. I'm kind of on the line about whether selling booze in grocery stores is good. On the one hand the convenience is awesome and it's usually cheaper. On the other the selection is smaller than a liquor store and will probably take business away from the specialized stores like LiquorMart and others. It would suck if you couldn't get microbrews as easily or cheaply.
Although I do agree with most of the previous comments about the desire for a disconnect between Wal-Marts and the doctors office, I do see a benefit of combining such services in a one-stop-shop location. From a few standpoints it does seem to result in a very efficient outcome. There will be a reduction of carbon emissions from individuals driving from numerous different locations scattered around different regions of a city. Time will saved, and therefore people will/can be more productive. There will be less land converted for the use of business structures; with these combined retail spaces, the physical building, parking lot, and other systems (sewer, electricity, energy) are shared. These are just some benefits I see to such one-stop-shops, apart from our emotional disliking of them.
I dont know how I feel about this. I understand the aspect of making things easier on hardworking people but it kind of creeps me out- the idea that you can get a shot between the meat counter and produce. Having credentials there is a valid point- and one that I'm not sure is addressed. I personally think this is the commercial world's way of giving certain population a health care reform. Personally, I'll continue going to my doctor (not in a grocery store...) only because I am fortunate enough to be able to afford it and because I appreciate the personal and formal experience of it. this certainly is something to think about...
I this one is very hard, because there seems to be a extremely fine line between providing affordable health care and wanting good health care. I feel that every person should have the right to health care, and prescriptions they need. If Walmart can offer these at a price that the needy can afford I see no issue. However the problem I see happening in the future is the lack of doctors. As sad as it is, many doctors go into the field because of money and if the wages go lower so do the number of doctors.
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