Sweetbay Partners With USF Health on First Clinic

TAMPA, Fla. — Sweetbay Supermarket here debuted its first in-store wellness clinic, USF Health Neighborhood Care Center, at a new store in New Tampa on Aug. 21.

The clinic is operated in partnership with USF Health, an umbrella organization of the University of South Florida’s public health, nursing and medicine colleges, and its more than 350 USF physicians.

The retail clinic is based on a comprehensive care model in which those that have a serious illness are referred to USF Health’s physicians and patients with preventive care needs can be referred to Sweetbay’s in-store clinic.

The retail clinic is a first-time venture for both USF Health and Sweetbay. Several years ago the retailer and USF opened Sweetbay-operated pharmacies at two USF health facilities.

The clinic, with an advanced registered nurse practitioner on duty, offers a variety of services that includes treating common illnesses, physicals and vaccines to targeting women 35 to 55 for bone density screenings.

“We are proud to offer the New Tampa community an in-store neighborhood care center where they can have convenient access to high-quality medical services that fit their needs,” said Mike Vail, Sweetbay’s president and chief operating officer, in a press statement.

Media reports said initial clinic traffic has been sporadic in the first few weeks of operation. Nicole LeBeau Gavin, a Sweetbay spokeswoman, told SN the clinic opened during the busy back-to-school season and it just getting off the ground.

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