Comments on: A Modern MD Who Makes House Calls http://www.leanblog.org/2008/01/modern-md-who-makes-house-calls/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:59:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: J Thatcher http://www.leanblog.org/2008/01/modern-md-who-makes-house-calls/#comment-3017 J Thatcher Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:52:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/01/a-modern-md-who-makes-house-calls/#comment-3017 He may be a new kind of physician; however, by forcing payment up front isn't he selecting a new kind of client as well?<br/><br/>What I mean is by forcing a cash-up-front approach he's essentially guaranteeing he'll never see a patient who relies on only having to pay the copay at time of visit or who saves up for awhile to make the payment.<br/><br/>Forcing reimbursement after the fact works fine for people who have blogs and nice jobs, but that small, floatable fee to us may mean a lot more to someone in a lower income bracket.<br/><br/>I'm not a health professional, so I obviously defer to your expertise in this area. I'm just wondering if this could be the case, and if so if you could ask him about why he does this... He may be a new kind of physician; however, by forcing payment up front isn’t he selecting a new kind of client as well?

What I mean is by forcing a cash-up-front approach he’s essentially guaranteeing he’ll never see a patient who relies on only having to pay the copay at time of visit or who saves up for awhile to make the payment.

Forcing reimbursement after the fact works fine for people who have blogs and nice jobs, but that small, floatable fee to us may mean a lot more to someone in a lower income bracket.

I’m not a health professional, so I obviously defer to your expertise in this area. I’m just wondering if this could be the case, and if so if you could ask him about why he does this…

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]]> By: Mike T. http://www.leanblog.org/2008/01/modern-md-who-makes-house-calls/#comment-3015 Mike T. Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:11:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/01/a-modern-md-who-makes-house-calls/#comment-3015 What about working with local businesses to offer employee appointments at their office? Don't bash me as the evil employer, I'm just thinking if I didn't have to wait at home for something basic, it could be done on a short break while at work. In my area, I'm 15 miles from town, 22 miles from work...<br/><br/>I'm thinking how it would save me even more time. I know I only make more people sick if I go to work, but lets be honest!<br/><br/>Ironically, just last night I was thinking about doctor's offices. I am out of state working with another plant this week and ran out of a "maintenance" medication (I have asthma so I have perscription inhalers and nasal sprays). I was able to call my physician's office and get a renewal called into a Wal-Mart close to where I am working. They were pretty danged efficient at getting me a new perscription (hey, they didn't require me to be "seen" first!), but is there a easier way to get these perscriptions for routine items (I haven't renewed this since 2006, so obviously I don't need it often). It still took 2+ hours to make contact with my doctor's office and for them to get the perscription called over. What about working with local businesses to offer employee appointments at their office? Don’t bash me as the evil employer, I’m just thinking if I didn’t have to wait at home for something basic, it could be done on a short break while at work. In my area, I’m 15 miles from town, 22 miles from work…

I’m thinking how it would save me even more time. I know I only make more people sick if I go to work, but lets be honest!

Ironically, just last night I was thinking about doctor’s offices. I am out of state working with another plant this week and ran out of a “maintenance” medication (I have asthma so I have perscription inhalers and nasal sprays). I was able to call my physician’s office and get a renewal called into a Wal-Mart close to where I am working. They were pretty danged efficient at getting me a new perscription (hey, they didn’t require me to be “seen” first!), but is there a easier way to get these perscriptions for routine items (I haven’t renewed this since 2006, so obviously I don’t need it often). It still took 2+ hours to make contact with my doctor’s office and for them to get the perscription called over.

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