One of the newest entrants to healthcare is the Convenient Medical Clinic, a walk-in healthcare clinic. They are operated by a venture firm, health system or physician group and provide pre-defined, basic medical services without an appointment in a retail setting. Staffed by nurse practitioners and occasionally physician assistants, these clinics offer convenient, low cost healthcare services for busy consumers in locations such as grocery, drug and big box retailer stores, malls, downtown skyways and large corporate offices.

In recent months the number of clinics throughout the country has drastically increased and continues to rise. Since 2003 several health systems have developed their own brand of convenient medical clinics as a way to promote the hospital brand, align with its primary care physicians, and to provide another access point into the system.