Clayton Christensen, a Harvard professor who studies disruptive innovations recently discussed an idea to reduce health care costs for many typical patient requests:
“Christensen nailed it on the head when he said this is an industry in desperate need of disruption. In its current state, a gross amount of overhead costs prepare hospitals and doctors to treat the most complex illnesses known to mankind.
In reality, most people need a quick look and a prescription. Christensen talked about a new business model coming out of Minnesota as the perfect disruptor for medicine.
Because Minnesota allows nurses to write prescriptions, the idea would be to create medical drop-in sites that treat 14 primary illnesses. Everything from strep throat to “burn your warts off.”
The flat rate for a checkup and ‘scrip is $29. If it takes more than 15 minutes, it’s free.
This is what you and I want, right? No long wait on the phone. No huge bills for a simple checkup. Quick and easy, in and out.
This would provide an alternate product to consumers and make going to a big ol’ HMO with a sore throat an unacceptable hassle for most consumers.
Christensen is suggesting this model to the Johns Hopkins hospitals in Maryland as a way for them to build their brand, embrace a disruptive force to come and give their patients what they want.
The Baltimore medical giant is reticent, he says, which is a typical response from an existing business reluctant to embrace disruption. “
