Prevention Matters

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Paul Tarini says consumer product companies and retail chains a source for "big innovation" in health and health care that are worth watching.

"Think Procter & Gamble, Best Buy and Wal-Mart," Tarini writes in RWJF's "Pioneering Ideas" blog. "When you move the focus from detection and treatment to prevention and wellness, there are lots of opportunities to develop products and services and relationships that improve health, extend life and don’t require medical professionals.

"I can imagine a whole bunch of consumer products and services that focus on wellness. And once established in that market, it’s not too big a step for these companies to begin to offer products and services that do require medical professionals…it’s already happening with minute clinics."