Walmart Health
Walmart Health was a disruptive entry into the U.S. Healthcare market by the worlds biggest retailer.
The strategy for the complex, multi-state rollout of clinics was predicated on an Industrialized Construction delivery system. The clinic program delivered more than 50 clincs in 5 states in less than four years. Initial site deployments began less than six months into the COVID lockdown.
This work was completed while serving as design director at BLOX.
To learn more about BLOX, visit www.bloxbuilt.com
Client
Walmart USA (w/BLOX)
Year
2019-20
Category
Retail
Medical
Turn Key
Type of Work
IC Program Management
IC Product Development
The program management brief was comprehensive and involved a seamless integration with the customers real estate and construction team.
Responsibilities began at site assessment; multi-disciplinary review teams were deployed across candidate locations to determine best fit. Criteria also included zoning, permitting and legal reviews. Results and likely sites were geospatially mapped across the target market before final site selection was made.
The approximately 6,000 sf modular clinic prototype would need to map onto over a dozen unique store configurations and solve for a number of possible variables on any given site.
The complex program had to incorporate a number of distinct clinical modlaities into a single cohesive unit that included primary care, dental, behavioral health, vision, hearing and lab and xray.
Walmart Health's product development effort had to anticipate significant variables in the regulatory, structural and operational context for the clinics. Logistics requirements would also be complex given the need to preserve store operations during buildout.
The client placed a high value on both speed-to-market and speed-to-data. Timelines were compressed; a rapid ramp up to multiple simultaneous site deployments in the pilot phase would be needed to meet the brief.
A complex undertaking such as Walmart Health involves many internal stakeholders, each with specific requirements for the clinical space. Our challenge in building out the IC program was to have it provide a primary venue for integrating those stakeholders needs while maintaining tight control of an ambitious and dynamic schedule.
The internal organization of the clinics is reflective of LEAN principles. Cross trained teams of Provider/ Nurse work within each treatment bay.
A distibuted team concept places the patient and provider in the closest proximity within primary, daylit circulation spaces.
Tuck away offices and huddle spaces provide acoustical privacy when needed.
The space is flooded with natural light. A fritted glass finish maintains privacy to the exterior while allowing views and light to the interior.
The bays sit between two volumetric exam room modules.
The IC program was also responsible for supply chain development for the fit ups, including industry partnerships and R&D.
The prototyping phase extended to new technologies, and potential new microproducts to service the enterprise. The process was uniquely collaborative, involving industry partnerships throughout the new venture.
