Dr. Dahan, the nation’s leading expert authority on medical integration answers important questions about the medical integration model and its future.
1. Please define medical integration.
Medical integration is the establishment of a health care center where patients are offered multiple varied services. The fundamental concept is that it is designed to operate as a “one stop shop” whereby a patient can receive the most comprehensive diversified care available without having to leave the premises and go anywhere else. In our context, typically, the medical integration center’s primary doctor is a “natural” health care provider namely a Chiropractor. After an extensive initial examination, the doctor will recommend several treatment options beginning with natural noninvasive care. Then, depending on the severity of the condition, the doctor may also recommend a comprehensive medical treatment which may include medications, invasive procedures, as well as a combination of alternative treatments.
2. What trend do you see in respect to medical integration in America?
Manage care is here to stay. There is no question that as the manage care system expands throughout the country and people are looking to save time and money while getting the best health care available, medical integrated centers are going to be in greater demands. Typically, patients ask three questions at the doctor’s office: Can you help me? How long is it going to take? And, how much will it cost? It is only common sense that patients are very concerned about their health care. Hence, over the next several years, my opinion is that we are going to see a considerable expansion of integrated medical centers throughout the USA. Obviously, those practitioners who will have taken the opportunity early on and had the foresight to create well established integrated medical centers will most likely reap all the best and greatest benefits.
3. Is medical integration a financially sustainable business model?
Absolutely.
Healthcare is a service and must be treated as a business. First and foremost, it is critical that one pays close attention to the current business trends and developments and make sure to act accordingly. Let’s look today how the internet is affecting businesses who did not early on, pay attention to the rapid rise of online eCommerce. In today’s fast pace world, business owners and professionals must be vigilant and protect their future. For a medically integrated clinic to succeed today, social media has to be one of the most crucial business components to consider. Indeed, irrespective of the location, the doctor of the future can succeed in such a model but at the same time must act prudently and intelligently using the latest resources available.
In conclusion, it is very important for doctors today, to pay close attention to the many changes which will affect our health care profession. Our patients, our most important “assets” deserve the best of health care and therefore it is our responsibility as doctors, to ensure that we create health care facilities that will provide the latest and most beneficial health treatment options.
