Comments on CARPE DIEM: Rx: Wal-Mart's Healthcare Plan - $50 Office Visits...

The ultimate self-perpetuating business... people ...

2009-11-11T19:48:42.061-05:00

The ultimate self-perpetuating business... people with viruses come in the store and, while they are waiting for treatment, walk around the store and spread the viruses to other customers who may come back for medical care later.

Come on WalMart... give out 10% off coupons for customers with WalMart charge cards who get infected at their friendly WalMart grocery aisle.

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Sounds like socialism to me..

2009-11-11T11:36:49.615-05:00

Sounds like socialism to me..

To make the Wal-mart clinics really work we need e...

2009-11-11T00:56:02.848-05:00

To make the Wal-mart clinics really work we need electronic medical records like the have in Belgium. With that then when you have an urgent condition and you go to the clinic, you don't have to fill out a 10+ page form, since your info is online.
Then we move to a paradigm where the primary care physician takes care of checkups and chronic issues since these can be pre-scheduled in a

Over 100,000 pages of government regulations creat...

2009-11-10T21:11:19.885-05:00

Over 100,000 pages of government regulations created enormous inefficienies and raised costs substantially. So, of course, prices had to rise, one way or another. Current health care reform is the final nail in the coffin to bankrupt the private sector and take it over.

"The AMA might not like the competition..." Who c...

2009-11-10T20:56:55.697-05:00

"The AMA might not like the competition..."

Who cares. The AMA represents fewer than 25% of practicing physicians. Most of us dislike the AMA and disagree with its stances.

The WalMart plan is excellent, and I bet most of my colleagues will agree. Most physicians are overbooked and overworked (60-90 hour work weeks). Numerous patients have simple problems that take

Combine this with a high deductible HSA and you ha...

2009-11-10T20:41:42.752-05:00

Combine this with a high deductible HSA and you have a very viable healthcare insurance model. Low intensity care at Walmart or equivalent and high intensity care at your family doctor's office. The AMA might not like the competition but the future is here, unless congress gets involved and are concercied by the every present lobbyists.

Wal-Mart is a healthcare innovator. They'll proba...

2009-11-10T18:56:39.469-05:00

Wal-Mart is a healthcare innovator. They'll probably be one of the first major employers that can provide onsite clinic access or discounts to their own employees (even part-timers) as a benefit of employment.

But even then, the Wal-Mart haters will say that Wal-Mart should give full health insurance to the average greeter or PT cashier. They'll never win over their crazed

So what's the point? Could it be that when you eli...

2009-11-10T17:38:20.745-05:00

So what's the point? Could it be that when you eliminate insurance companies and their near-monopolies from the equation, the cost for health care plummets? . . . Treating colds and handing out band aids is easy, but it's things like surgery, major life-threatening diseases and the the exorbitant cost of treating them that are the real issues comprising our health care crisis. When

These These clinics are a partnershio between East...

2009-11-10T16:19:13.436-05:00

These These clinics are a partnershio between Eastern Maine Medical Center and Walmart.I have a low opinion generallly of Wal-Mart but this is a good idea. These clinics can hopefully help a lot people who would seek medical care at emergency rooms but don't have an emergency -- a help to lowering healthcare costs.

Hmmm, interesting idea... I wonder if Walmart con...

2009-11-10T16:02:17.863-05:00

Hmmm, interesting idea...

I wonder if Walmart considers this service as a loss leader?

Did you happen to note the online poll results so far?

I wonder what its overhead costs are relative to the Walmart as a whole per store?

Still it seems like a pretty good