As the healthcare industry continues to expand exponentially, there are a number of new health care provider models that are gaining traction. In addition to the use of urgent care centers to ease overcrowding of emergency rooms and to provide better care and an overall better experience for patients, the rise in the use of family clinics as a one-stop facility to address all family health needs is also gaining momentum at a rapid pace.
As residents in the Edmonds, WA area continue to look for more affordable and effective health care, the availability of family clinics in the area is providing the convenience and affordability that many families are looking for.
Family health clinics provide a number of advantages that can be very appealing to families that are health conscience.
The Convenience of a One-Stop Family Health Facility
It is not uncommon for family members of one family to have to visit multiple locations to receive the medical attention that each person needs. The wife may be forced to visit one location for OB/GYN services, and the children will have to visit a pediatrician at another location, and so on. With the emergence of family clinics, families will be able to consolidate their doctor's visits to one centralized location, even when they are visiting multiple doctors.
The Expansion of Primary Care
Under the conventional primary care model, a person may be diagnosed for a specific condition by their primary care physician and then referred to a specialist across town. While many primary care physicians work hard to minimize these types of occurrences, it happens far more than they would like. With the family clinic model, it is likely that the specialist will be housed in the same facility. This not only serves as a convenience for the patient, but it allows the doctors to collaborate and elaborate concerning the patient's treatment on a personal and direct level, improving the ultimate outcome.
More Cost Effective
Because physicians and labs are sharing the cost of office space and utilities, they will be able to pass their savings on to the patient. They will also be able to enter more health insurance networks, meaning more families will be able to take advantage of this service.
While family clinics will not solve all of the enigmatic issues associated with a rapidly expanding health care industry, but it does provide a viable option to existing health care provider models.