I read an article today about a doctor who is helping to reinvent medical practice. She has gotten rid of receptionists and nurses to reduce her operating costs and passes the savings to her patients. She doesn’t deal with insurance companies either and primarily takes patients that have no health insurance. For a first time visit she only charges $45 - a lot less than what a person would normally pay if they didn’t have insurance.

She also spends more time with her patients - as well as with her kids. Her first visit with patients last an hour and she uses a web site and email to help with help communicate with patients.

This whole trend was started by Gordon Moore five years ago, and estimates are that around 100 or so other doctors around the country are running their practices this way also.

Do you think this trend will catch on with more doctors? Would you choose a doctor like this if you had a choice? It sounds great, but I do wonder if she still has malpractice insurance? I don’t see how a doctor could work without it anymore. It would certainly help with the doctor-patient relationship if doctors weren’t so rushed and people without insurance could afford to see a doctor more easily.

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