July 12, 2013
Chicago Tribune writer Christopher Gearon opened his recent piece about direct primary care with a question? “Ever need to wait a week or more to see your primary care doctor?” He then recommends that you take a cue from Debra Sallee, 58, a Seattle hair salon owner. She pays a flat fee of $79 a month and can see her family physician unlimited times — with no co-payments or health insurance forms.
“It’s just so convenient. They are at my beck and call,” she says.
July 11, 2013
Dr. Doug and Dr. Josh have been spreading the gospel of direct care on Fox News, late night podcasts and CNN. But Concierge Medicine Today (CMT) has some data showing the downside in concierge medicine. They’re finding that the number of patients seeking concierge medical care exceeds the actual number of primary care and family practice doctors on the market.
“Despite what we hear in the media about the increase in concierge and private-pay physicians growing across America, there are simply not enough of these [concierge-style, direct care or membership medicine-style] physicians in the U.S. to meet the current demand,” says Michael Tetreault, Editor-In-Chief of Concierge Medicine Today “At the end of the day, the marketplace is still falling short.”
July 11, 2013
July 11, 2013
Forbes contributor Dave Chase claims he powers/covers disruptive innovators reinventing healthcare. A disruptive innovator Dave’s been covering lately is direct primary care (DPC). In his recent article he claims that despite being included in Obamacare, DPC is surprisingly unknown by many health insurance executives. He refers to it as Concierge Medicine for the Masses, which is pretty spot on, comparing the $50-$80 average monthly cost to a gym membership, something Dr. Josh said recently.
Dave’s job is to explain things like DPC to insurance executives and has found it to be like a Rorschach test “reflecting whether that executive’s organization is playing to win or is back on their heels regarding the wrenching changes that are reshaping healthcare from the DIY Health Reform movement as well as the effects of Obamacare.”
July 10, 2013
In case you needed any more reasons to get incensed with healthcare’s exorbitant costs, The New York Times has you covered. First, you’ll want to read their piece about how ridiculously overpriced it is to have a baby in this country (“American Way Of Birth, Costliest In The World” via The New York Times).
According to the article, “Women with insurance pay out of pocket an average of $3,400, according to a survey by Childbirth Connection, one of the groups behind the maternity costs report. Two decades ago, women typically paid nothing other than a small fee if they opted for a private hospital room or television.”
And that’s just the start. Read more
July 9, 2013
Dr. Josh took a minute out of his day to answer a question he’s been getting asked a lot lately: Why does’t Atlas MD just use the fee-for-service model that’s been the staple in healthcare? Listen to Josh explain the Direct Care Membership Model and why it makes sense.
July 9, 2013
First we came across an article in The Atlantic that discussed how doctor shortage could be the result of burnout caused by a lack of training in how to “deal with work pressures.” It was a stretch in our opinion, but we’re keeping an open mind. Unfortunately, we were not mentioned in the article as a force KEEPING doctors from retiring or getting out of practicing medicine altogether. Included within the article were some helpful links to leading publishers writing about doctor shortages. Thanks to the author Maureen Miller for directing us to this premium content.
Sunday Dialogue: Will Training More Doctors Improve Health Care? | The New York Times
One med student is one hundred percent behind insuring more Americans. Still, he asks, what’s the point if you can’t find a doctor. READ MORE
“How some states are addressing doctor shortages” | Yahoo News
An informative article comprised of blurbs about projected doctor requirements, current funding for programs, and other relevant info. It spans more than ten states including California, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, The Dakotas and more. READ MORE
July 9, 2013
Back in May, Forbes reported that there were now approximately 4,400 physicians who were practicing concierge-style medicine. They define the term as “a form of primary care characterized by a retainer-style fee in return for enhanced access to physician care.” In an MD News article, Jennifer Webster questions what makes physicians decide to become concierge doctors, pondering if the trade-offs are worth it — for instance, things like handing out one’s personal cell phone number.
July 9, 2013
One could say that Atlas MD is on fire, after recent media attention. But now Forbes contributor Dave Chase (left) has posted a new article on Forbes.com. He’s released an exclusive book excerpt from Engage! Transforming Healthcare Through Digital Patient Engagement. In his online article releasing an advanced read of a chapter he wrote, he’s included a quote from Dr. Josh:
“A good scalpel makes a better surgeon. Good communication makes a better doctor.” – Dr. Josh Umbehr
July 8, 2013
Dark Daily writer Patricia Kirk shares Michigan University research that suggests there are opportunities for physicians to make more money using EMR. However, a major factor that would theoretically help them make this proposed “money” includes using ONLY THE NEW EMR, not the new EMR in conjunction with pre-existing methods. Hmmm, so why would someone buy something to replace something, and then keep using the old thing? Oh right, the government paid them to buy it. We almost forgot.
