If CVS Bets Big on Urgent Care, Hospitals Should Worry

The pharmacy chain could be a threat to hospitals and health systems by entering into the urgent care market.

CVS Health, which already has more than 9,800 locations with space allocated for healthcare services, may soon get into the urgent care business.

And that could be a threat to hospitals and health systems and the growing market share they have been building in the urgent care space.

CVS CEO Larry Merlo has been saying for the last year that the drugstore chain plans to add more healthcare services and is “exploring more ways to collaborate with physicians” in its drugstores and 1,100 MinuteClinic retail clinics staffed by nurse practitioners.

Related: Why Health Systems Should Worry About Walgreens and CVS