Following the growing trend of hospitals and health systems focusing on convenient access for patients, Hartford, Conn.-based Saint Francis Care has opened a retail primary care clinic in a Stop & Shop supermarket in Simsbury, Conn.
The clinic, called Saint Francis FastCare, is the first in-story primary care clinic of its kind in a supermarket in central Connecticut. Providers treat common, non-urgent illnesses, can give vaccines and test for rapid strep, pregnancy and TB, among other services. Walk-ins are accepted, and a report will be sent to patients' primary care physicians after the appointment.
"Providing access to high-quality healthcare is extremely important to Saint Francis," said Christopher Dadlez, the system's president and CEO. "This Saint Francis FastCare partnership with Stop & Ship will allow us to better serve the community by offering non-urgent medical care, right here, right now."
A second Saint Francis FastCare location will open in a Stop & Shop in Manchester later this year.
The clinics are part of an exclusive licensing agreement with Bellin Memorial Hospital in Green Bay, Wis., and Ahold USA, the parent company of Stop & Shop. Bellin Health developed the FastCare brand in 2006, and partners with health systems and stores across the nation to offer healthcare services in a convenient location. There are currently 30 FastCare locations in 10 states.