Worry over Healthcare Capacity

A new study by Accenture shows that retail clinics in pharmacies, stores and other retail locations can significantly help service the influx of the newly insured under the Affordable Healthcare Reform Act.  It is estimated that these facilities can service 10.8 million patients annually within the next 3 years. Once regarded as competition to clinics these facilities now add additional capacity and refer patients needing further care to clinics.  In the past, it seems, that many of these patients would seek the services of a hospital emergency room for treatment of minor ailments.  With the growth of retail clinics, more patients can be seen there, and the emergency rooms can focus on real emergencies and more complex cases.  The connection to commercial real estate? Perhaps a larger footprint for pharmacies and other retail outlets and maybe even some absorption for some vacant big box stores.

Data vs. Retail

According to a CoStar article, Sears is diving into the data storage arena by converting some to the closed Sears and K Mart stores into data storage facilities.  Sounds like a pretty creative use for these facilities as more and more big box stores utilize the power of the internet to move product.  Not all of the closed stores can be converted to other big box stores, so why not think "out of the box" and figure out different uses for these buildings.  Good for Sears to look to the future and take advantage of the current digital trends.