Marketing & Content Strategist | Author | Healthcare Branding & Storytelling Enthusiast | Fixing 'Marketing Malpractice.'
In any #patientexperience scenario, ACCESS is number one. Agree? You're the Chief Marketing Officer at any health system USA. Your C-suite just signed a deal with private equity to move primary care to concierge medicine. Your charge is to drive conversions for people to pay $2000 to $4000+ for prime access to a physician. As CMO, you do what you are told to do. Your target audience is easy. People with the means to pay extra. In any region or location, you know who they are. Tracking and measurement is simple, too. The CFO will know how to validate this ROI. The bigger question...is this trend to shore up and protect traditional primary care the right thing to do? * Will it improve access? No * Will it lessen consumer demand for physicians? No * Does it solve health equity issues? No * Is it about 'health' or chronic disease management? No * Are patients the priority? No. They are directed to other options and urgent care if they can't afford the concierge deal. * Does it sound more like socialized medicine? Yes. (e.g. - in the UK, you can buy individual private insurance while the masses are left to the government's cumbersome national health plan.) * The 'haves' vs. the 'have nots' continues to grow? Yes * Does the provider really make any revenue? ?? * Do private equity firms fill their coffers? Yes * Do the comments in the article make you cringe? Yes, yes! As I've reported previously, the patient experience is suffering. We all talk the latest good game to solve the problem. Is this the answer? #healthcare #hospitals #primarycare #physicians #patients
James A. Gardner
8mo
John, you've put a spotlight on what we call an "unfortunate truth". Concierge medicine weakens the larger system, but is advantageous to the wealthy getting access and the health systems selling it.
Continual improvement seeker with old school belief that better healthcare outcomes come from strengthening trusted relationships.
8moAmen. The patient experience is about outcomes not empty promises.