Comments on: Open for Business http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/ Thoughts of a moderately strange (yet not harmful) primary care physician. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:20:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: dock http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-3062 dock Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:07:06 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-3062 My partner and I are thinking about starting a medical practice. We are certain that we want to include after-hours (or, early morning hours as well) for the higher charge. Are there basic things that we would need to start this model? Also, what do you think of having an "urgent care" type of area in the office that one doc could staff while the other sees appointments during the regular day? Would we be able to charge differently for the scheduled appointments vs. the urgent appointments? Thanks My partner and I are thinking about starting a medical practice. We are certain that we want to include after-hours (or, early morning hours as well) for the higher charge. Are there basic things that we would need to start this model?

Also, what do you think of having an “urgent care” type of area in the office that one doc could staff while the other sees appointments during the regular day? Would we be able to charge differently for the scheduled appointments vs. the urgent appointments?

Thanks

]]> By: Peggikaye http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2659 Peggikaye Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:27:47 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-2659 Our clinic had one of these, and recently closed it. Why? I've got no earlthy idea. My doctors get very frustrated with me coming in very sick. But I refuse to go to the ER for a UTI, or an URI ... PERIOD. Granted, I'm on Imuran, Prednisone and Plaquenil, and by the time I start to not feel good on wednesday or thursday ...and by Monday, I'm good and *REALLY* sick ...but I'm still not going to spend 8 hours in an emergency room for a urinary tract infection or bronchitis ... so that I can get exposed to who knows what else???? It's gotten me in some pretty tight physical spots, including needing IV antibiotics ...but I'm sure that going to the ER would get me into tighter spots .. I KNOW it would ... I do not understand why they closed the clinic. Our clinic has 19 clinics spread around town, there are plenty of docs who could take the calls for the weekend spots. Whenever I did go, there were anywhere from 10 to 15 patients in the waiting room (regardless of the time I went to the clinic) so you know it was being used, and therefore profitable ... it makes no sense as to why they'd shut it. yes, this is a sore point for me. just a bit. Our clinic had one of these, and recently closed it. Why? I’ve got no earlthy idea. My doctors get very frustrated with me coming in very sick. But I refuse to go to the ER for a UTI, or an URI … PERIOD. Granted, I’m on Imuran, Prednisone and Plaquenil, and by the time I start to not feel good on wednesday or thursday …and by Monday, I’m good and *REALLY* sick …but I’m still not going to spend 8 hours in an emergency room for a urinary tract infection or bronchitis … so that I can get exposed to who knows what else????

It’s gotten me in some pretty tight physical spots, including needing IV antibiotics …but I’m sure that going to the ER would get me into tighter spots .. I KNOW it would …

I do not understand why they closed the clinic. Our clinic has 19 clinics spread around town, there are plenty of docs who could take the calls for the weekend spots. Whenever I did go, there were anywhere from 10 to 15 patients in the waiting room (regardless of the time I went to the clinic) so you know it was being used, and therefore profitable …

it makes no sense as to why they’d shut it.

yes, this is a sore point for me. just a bit.

]]> By: Ken O. http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2332 Ken O. Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:54:25 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-2332 I agree with the underlying premise, but, subject to the business case making sense, (which was more than those typos I nearly did would have ;) ) have you considered running evening surgery on a similar basis? One of my biggest complaints is that it's almost impossible to get to see profesionals, or even tradesmen, outside of 9-5 Monday through Friday, even though I don't lose pay when taking time off for medical appointments. I agree with the underlying premise, but, subject to the business case making sense, (which was more than those typos I nearly did would have ;) ) have you considered running evening surgery on a similar basis?
One of my biggest complaints is that it’s almost impossible to get to see profesionals, or even tradesmen, outside of 9-5 Monday through Friday, even though I don’t lose pay when taking time off for medical appointments.

]]> By: Kat http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2329 Kat Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:36:47 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-2329 I agree with Rebecca. I've often thought that if I was a physician, I'd make my set my office hours at something like 11-8 or Noon-9, so people wouldn't have to take so much time off work - not only for their own appointments, but for the kiddos as well. That's the way my body clock works, anyway, so it would be good all around - better hours for the patients, and a happier, more awake, more alert provider for them. Too bad I'm not disciplined enough and don't want the debt. I'm just selfish like that. I agree with Rebecca. I’ve often thought that if I was a physician, I’d make my set my office hours at something like 11-8 or Noon-9, so people wouldn’t have to take so much time off work – not only for their own appointments, but for the kiddos as well. That’s the way my body clock works, anyway, so it would be good all around – better hours for the patients, and a happier, more awake, more alert provider for them.

Too bad I’m not disciplined enough and don’t want the debt. I’m just selfish like that.

]]> By: Dr Schoor http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2324 Dr Schoor Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:49:04 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-2324 I agree completely with your post. Older docs are the most resistant ones, having lived through the Wednesday off era and incomes 3 SD over the mean for American incomes. Now docs must find creative ways to accomodate demand if they are fortunate enough to have it. Nice job. I agree completely with your post. Older docs are the most resistant ones, having lived through the Wednesday off era and incomes 3 SD over the mean for American incomes.
Now docs must find creative ways to accomodate demand if they are fortunate enough to have it.
Nice job.

]]> By: Dr. Manya http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2323 Dr. Manya Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:25:50 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-2323 Dr. Rob, Great blog....I couldn't agree more with your underlying premise. Any doc who has a practice (or groups of docs), has a business, period. Helping doctors open up the entrepreneurial side of their brains (something I do as a physician coach) is not only good for their financial health but is a boon for their patient customers. Whether it's thinking about how to extend and expand the venue of practice as you illustrate in this posting or coming up with other ways to support patients such as creating information products, there are so many creative and too often untapped ways that physicians can help people. Dr. Rob,

Great blog….I couldn’t agree more with your underlying premise. Any doc who has a practice (or groups of docs), has a business, period. Helping doctors open up the entrepreneurial side of their brains (something I do as a physician coach) is not only good for their financial health but is a boon for their patient customers. Whether it’s thinking about how to extend and expand the venue of practice as you illustrate in this posting or coming up with other ways to support patients such as creating information products, there are so many creative and too often untapped ways that physicians can help people.

]]> By: TBTAM http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2321 TBTAM Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:05:28 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-2321 "You have to look at medicine as a business." I was thinking the very same thoughts today. Everyone else but docs in this business get it, and everyone but the docs are making money. “You have to look at medicine as a business.”

I was thinking the very same thoughts today. Everyone else but docs in this business get it, and everyone but the docs are making money.

]]> By: The Business of Medicine « Number Needed to Treat http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2319 The Business of Medicine « Number Needed to Treat Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:31:11 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-2319 [...] 4, 2008 in Uncategorized Dr. Rob has an excellent post regarding the economics of his practice’s after-hours [...] [...] 4, 2008 in Uncategorized Dr. Rob has an excellent post regarding the economics of his practice’s after-hours [...]

]]> By: Rebecca http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2317 Rebecca Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:40:27 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-2317 More often than not i've just wished dr's would take patients later at night or earlier in the morning so we don't have to miss work. The clinic idea is good, especially for people who feel sick and can't wait for an appointment. More often than not i’ve just wished dr’s would take patients later at night or earlier in the morning so we don’t have to miss work. The clinic idea is good, especially for people who feel sick and can’t wait for an appointment.

]]> By: Judy http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/comment-page-1/#comment-2315 Judy Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:02:58 +0000 http://distractible.org/2008/09/03/open-for-business/#comment-2315 Our doctor's office also has early morning walkins. I think they're great. Glad to know it helps the office also. Our doctor’s office also has early morning walkins. I think they’re great. Glad to know it helps the office also.

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