NEW YORK — Paced by leading chain drug operators, the number of retail health clinics in the United States is growing steadily, says a Kalorama Information report.

In recent years, as a result of the economic downturn, retail clinic growth had been at a standstill. But 2013-2014 was a year of opportunities, as the number of retail clinics reached nearly 1,600, according to the health care market researcher’s report, “Retail Clinics Market Overview and 2014 Consumer Survey Results.’’

Retail clinics are not freestanding units but rather operate as medical settings located in-store that provide a limited number of programs and services. Yet they offer a welcome option for many busy Americans. Most of these retail clinics are located in outlets operated by CVS Health, Walgreen Co., Target Corp. and Walmart stores, but there are other chains and venues in which they operate as well.

Generally, the facilities are open seven days a week, with no appointment necessary.
“For drug store clinics, it’s now an essential part of strategy. So growth has been most evident in drug store clinics, particularly CVS,” said Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information. “Drug store clinics can operate retail clinics because they have the potential to keep customers longer and bring in additional sales from customers visiting the clinic that day.”

CVS is the leader in the number of retail clinic store locations, with more than 900 locations in 30 states and the District of Columbia. The company has a national expansion plan to add 150 clinics in 2014.

Over the past five years, Kalorama has analyzed clinic location growth, trends and key operators. In its most recent report, Kalorama attempted to find out the future of retail clinics by looking at the customers who patronize them. It conducted an online panel of 2,000 U.S. adults, age 18 and over, who were queried on a variety of topics, including whether they have used a retail clinic and, depending on that response, whether they were satisfied or whether they would consider using one.

Kalorama found that more people are using retail clinics — though not a majority of the U.S. population yet — and that a high percentage of visitors were satisfied with the experience. Visitors skew older, with a high percentage over age 40, and the most common reason for a visit is to receive a ­vaccination.

The survey also gleaned information regarding number of patient visits per day, the impact of store advertising, the likelihood of follow-up visits, and the number of clinics having a physician.

Overall, the signs for the retail clinic industry are positive: The usefulness of clinics is not in doubt, and conservative but steady growth in the number of stores is expected to continue, in part because of a declining number of physicians throughout the country.

“We’ve surveyed on the question of customer satisfaction a few times in recent years, and the trend has always been high,” Carlson said.