What is an integrated medical center (aka Multi-Disciplinary Center or DC-MD clinic)? What does it offer? How does it compete in today’s health care arena? Is it legal? Is a Multi-Disciplinary Center created to circumvent limits on chiropractic benefits?

This guide is designed to introduce you on what medical integration is all about.

Definition: An integrated medical center is a practice consisting of at least two healthcare professionals of different disciplines servicing patients at one clinic.

Over the years many descriptive names have been utilized: medical integrated center; holistic center; diversified health care center; multi-discipline center, one-stop shop; complete care; complimentary health care facility; comprehensive facility; DC-MD, MD-DC etc…

Who Are These Health Care Practitioners?

Typically, they are DC’s, MD’s, DO’s, NP’s or PA’s co-treating patients.

How Have These Integrated Medical Centers Evolved?
Integrated medical centers have existed for decades. Nonetheless, today, with so many DCs considering medical integration, it is critical to understand the many important changes which have happened over the last 25 years.

Let us first consider some statistics to give you a better understanding.

Statistically, some of the latest polls show that about 129 million people in the U.S. (36 percent of the adult population) used some form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). Usage among those aged 35-49 is even higher (50 percent) hospitalizations.

Americans spent $30.2 billion out-of-pocket on visits to alternative practitioners. This does not include money spent on retail items, such as non-vitamin and natural products ($12.8 billion). Yet complimentary practitioner visits totaled $14.7 billion compared to $49.6 billion for physician visits. So, for comparison, out-of-pocket expenditures for physician visits were $49.6 billion.

Note that almost half the money — $14.7 billion — was spent visiting practitioners like acupuncturists, homeopaths, naturopaths, chelation therapists, mind-body experts, energy healing specialists, hypnotists, massage therapists and traditional healers. What this means is that our population today is clearly interested in “alternative care”.

Interestingly however, the results listed here DO NOT include Chiropractic care.

Indeed, the visits to DC’s have not changed and still remain at less than 10% nationally. Now ask yourself why did 42.1 percent of U.S. citizens surveyed use at least one of 16 alternative medicine practitioners – an increase from 427 million in 1990 to 629 million in 1997, exceeding the total visits to primary care physicians?

Again, the previously mentioned statistics clearly show that the interest in alternative therapy from the public has definitely increased. These numbers are very convincing and any DC who is not yet integrated, should really take a moment and review these statistics. Clearly, the general public is ready and wants options and DC’s have the perfect opportunity to create medical integrated centers which will attract all these patients. Another reason why medical integration has become so popular is for its financial rewards.

As insurance companies contract with more and more plans, doctors find themselves rendering the same type of service with decreased reimbursements. Therefore, doctors must look for different ways to
supplement their incomes. To make matter even more convincing in today’s fast pace life, consumers are demanding that services be rendered expeditiously. This of course is partially due to the advent of the internet and the latest technologies surrounding our world today.

My years of experience have confirmed that to successfully establish an integrated medical center, a doctor should consider the following minimum
requirements. The practice should treat about 100 office visits per week, 10-15 new patients per month, and have $15,000 or more per month in collection.

A clinic should be established for at least 18 months, with a minimum space of about 1000 square feet. Just as well, an initial working capital of at least $10,000 is needed for the first 90 days of inception.

It goes without saying that the doctor has a “clean” license and no pending law suit. In fact, COA will not consider any potential client until after a thorough review has been conducted. This is done to protect our current active members from any potential investigations.

Contrary to popular belief, a thorough knowledge of coding and billing is not necessary. But, what is of absolute importance is a solid management and well trained team. This is an area that COA prides itself and is the basis for our continued success in all our clinics.