United Supermarkets to open first health care clinics in west Texas

LUBBOCK, Texas United Supermarkets, a regional family-owned grocery chain with stores in 26 markets throughout north and west Texas is joining forces with Family Medicine Centers to offer a Living Well ExpressCare clinic in its Amarillo, Texas store beginning next month.

The clinic will offer primary medical services to store guests at United's 45th and Bell location beginning Sept. 1. It will be located next to the pharmacy, allowing patients to get their prescriptions filled immediately at the same location.

United announced that similar facilities, the first in-store health clinics in west Texas, also are under construction in two United stores in Lubbock, as well as the new Market Street store being built in Frisco, near Dallas, according to the retailer.

"The need for accessible, affordable, high-quality health care in our country has never been greater, as studies indicate that nearly a third of the U.S. population does not have a family physician," stated Mark Yowell, Specialty Division vice president of United Supermarkets. "[The clinics] "will allow us to focus attention on the wellness and nutrition products and services available in our stores."

The facility will be open seven days a week, maintaining operating hours similar to those of the store's pharmacy. It will be staffed by a licensed nurse practitioner or physician assistant under the supervision of a licensed physician.