The last of the CVS walk-in “MinuteClinics” will close in Utah this week according to a company spokesperson. The MinuteClinic locations are in Ogden, Highland, and West Jordan. More than 30 pharmacy locations will remain open throughout the state.

The closures which swept Los Angeles and Southern California earlier this year are part of a company strategy that executives say will “help support future growth and design the next evolution of community health destinations.”

Roughly 300 CVS locations nationally have closed entirely during 2024.

The MinuteClinic premiered in 2006 as an in-store healthcare provider that could provide easy community access for common services and treatments. The concept was designed to be cheaper than traditional urgent care clinics.

According to healthcare consultant Kate McCarthy the closure of MiniteClinics is a “very healthy response” by CVS as the market for healthcare shifts to telemedicine instead of walk-in treatment.

 “We’ll look for opportunities to offer clinical team members different opportunities within the company and those who are not able to find a new role will be offered severance benefits,” said a statement from CVS.

Drug stores including CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens have struggled financially in the post-COVID environment with reimbursement rates for prescription drugs plummeting. Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy in 2023 and Walgreens reports that roughly 25% of their stores are not profitable. CVS is expected to focus more of their attention on telehealth than on retail medical services.CVS will continue to offer telemedicine appointments 7 days a week and vaccines through their pharmacies.