Doctors Practice Model

New practice models targeting patient dissatisfaction with long waits.
The New York Times (6/30, Schultz) "Bucks" blog reports, "Patient dissatisfaction with long waits is not lost on physicians, and new practice models are popping up around the country partly in response." Such practices may charge annual membership fees and use "information technology to help manage costs" to prevent patient visits for "routine ailments like urinary tract infections." These patients can be diagnosed "by e-mail or phone," and "refills are also done online" to "help limit the number of patients coming into the office." Patients would also have "longer appointment times" to "create an extra buffer in case a patient shows up late."